Ans> (b) Badr Abdelatty

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Appointment: Senior Egyptian diplomat Badr Abdelatty has been officially appointed as the new Secretary-General of the Arab League in March 2026.

* The Succession: He succeeds the outgoing Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, taking the helm during a critical period for Middle Eastern geopolitics and diplomacy.

* The Organization: The Arab League is a prominent regional organization comprising Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa, dedicated to fostering closer political, economic, and cultural cooperation among its member nations.

Ans> (d) Suriname

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Passing: Indian-origin leader Chandrikapersad Santokhi recently passed away, marking the end of a significant political era for his nation.

* The Role: He served as the former President of Suriname, a South American country known for its deep cultural and historical ties with India, largely due to its significant Indian diaspora.

* Significance: During his political tenure, he played a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations, trade, and cultural exchange between India and Suriname, acting as a prominent voice for the global Indian diaspora.

Ans> (b) 16 years

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Law: Indonesia has recently introduced a strict new law designed to restrict and regulate the use of social media platforms by minors.

* Age Limit: The restriction specifically applies to all children below the age of 16 years, aiming to limit their exposure to unregulated digital spaces.

* Significance: This proactive move aligns with a growing global trend to protect youth from the negative impacts of social media, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and rising mental health concerns among adolescents.

Ans> (b) Willie Walsh

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Appointment: Aviation veteran Willie Walsh has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IndiGo, India’s largest airline, effective from August 2026.

* The Succession: He will succeed the outgoing CEO, Pieter Elbers, taking the helm to steer the airline’s next ambitious phase of massive international expansion.

* Background: Willie Walsh brings decades of high-level global aviation experience, having previously served in top leadership roles at major entities like British Airways and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Ans> (b) Piyush Anand

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Extension: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has officially approved the extension of Piyush Anand’s tenure as the Director General (DG) of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) until March 30, 2027.

* The Officer: Piyush Anand is a highly experienced senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who has been leading this specialized disaster response force with distinguished service.

* About NDRF: Formed under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, the NDRF is India’s specialized, multi-disciplinary force primarily responsible for providing a swift, highly skilled, and effective response during natural and man-made disasters.

Ans> (b) 91st

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Anniversary: On April 1, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the nation’s central bank and regulatory body, proudly celebrated its 91st Foundation Day.

* Historical Context: The RBI was officially established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, following the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission.

* Significance: Initially headquartered in Kolkata before permanently moving to Mumbai in 1937, the RBI has played a pivotal role in maintaining the country’s monetary stability and managing the national currency since its nationalization in 1949.

Ans> (b) National Statistical Office

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Report: The comprehensive “Energy Statistics India 2026” report was released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which operates under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

* The Purpose: It serves as a vital statistical document that provides a holistic picture of India’s energy scenario, covering reserves, installed capacity, production, consumption, and foreign trade of various energy commodities.

* Significance: This data is crucial for policymakers, researchers, and government bodies to formulate effective energy policies, plan infrastructure, and track the nation’s transition towards renewable energy sources.

Ans> (a) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Event: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports successfully hosted the ‘First BRICS Youth Coordination Meeting’ in New Delhi in March 2026.

* The Objective: The meeting aimed to foster deeper cooperation, cultural exchange, and collaborative problem-solving among youth leaders and delegates from BRICS member nations.

* Significance: It serves as a crucial platform to amplify the voices of the youth in global governance and strengthen youth-centric initiatives within the expanded BRICS framework.

Ans> (a) Arunachal Pradesh

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Allocation: The Central Government earmarked a total outlay of ₹25,000 crore under the ‘Pride of Hills’ scheme, with Arunachal Pradesh receiving the highest allocation of ₹4,900 crore.

* The Scheme: The ‘Pride of Hills: Special Development Assistance for the Hill States’ initiative aims to address structural and fiscal challenges faced by 9 hill states due to difficult terrain, limited connectivity, and sparse populations.

* Significance: This massive capital investment will significantly boost infrastructure development, improve public services, and stimulate sustainable economic growth in India’s geographically challenging and remote regions.

Ans> (c) 30 March

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Day: The International Day of Zero Waste is observed globally on March 30th every year.

* The Objective: The day aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, support the societal shift towards a circular economy, and raise awareness about how zero-waste initiatives contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

* Significance: Officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), it highlights the urgent need to address the escalating global waste crisis and encourages proactive measures at local, national, and international levels to reduce waste generation.

Ans> (b) 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste Initiative

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Selection: The coastal town of Varkala in Kerala has been globally recognized and selected for the prestigious ’20 Cities Towards Zero Waste’ initiative.

* The Initiative: This global program aims to transform participating cities into models of sustainable waste management by minimizing pollution and striving to eliminate waste sent to landfills and oceans.

* Significance: Varkala’s inclusion highlights local efforts in environmental conservation and sustainable tourism, making it a leading example for effective solid waste management practices in India.

Ans> (c) Kutch, Gujarat

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Event: In a massive conservation milestone, a healthy chick of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) was successfully born in Kutch, Gujarat, after a long gap of 10 years.

* The Technology: The birth was made possible utilizing the innovative ‘Jumpstart’ technology, which involves highly advanced artificial incubation and assisted hatching techniques to ensure the survival of fragile eggs.

* Significance: With the GIB population dwindling to critically low numbers globally, this successful breeding brings renewed hope for the survival and population recovery of this majestic bird species in its natural habitat.

Ans> (b) Hardik Singh and Salima Tete

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Award: Vice-captain Hardik Singh and women’s team star Salima Tete were honored with the prestigious Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, at the Hockey India Annual Awards.

* The Recognition: This highly coveted award recognizes their outstanding contributions, consistent match-winning performances, and exceptional leadership on the field throughout the year.

* Significance: Named after the legendary Indian hockey player Balbir Singh Sr., it is the highest individual honor bestowed by Hockey India, celebrating the absolute best talent in the sport.

Ans> (d) Lokesh Sathyanathan

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Record: Indian long jumper Lokesh Sathyanathan made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to breach the 8-metre mark in the indoor long jump.

* The Event: He achieved this remarkable feat at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, registering a massive jump of 8.01 metres.

* Significance: This exceptional performance shattered the previous national indoor record, setting a new benchmark for Indian athletics on the global indoor stage.

Ans> (d) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Event: The highly anticipated Asian Boxing Championships 2026 is being hosted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, bringing together top amateur pugilists from across the continent.

* The Contingent: India has sent a strong 20-member contingent led by Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and former world champion Nikhat Zareen to compete in this crucial tournament.

* Significance: The championship holds immense importance as boxers reaching the finals in approved weight categories will secure direct qualification spots for upcoming major multi-sport events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Ans> (b) Sheetal Devi

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Award: Extraordinary Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi has been officially honored with the highly prestigious ‘Para Archer of the Year 2025’ award for her phenomenal and consistent performances.

* The Athlete: Sheetal Devi made global history as the world’s first armless female archer to compete and win medals at the highest international level, defying all odds.

* Significance: Her remarkable achievements, unyielding spirit, and pinpoint accuracy have not only brought immense glory to India but have also set a massive benchmark of inspiration in the world of para-sports.

Ans> (d) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Technology: The NISAR satellite utilizes advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, which allows it to penetrate cloud cover and capture high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface regardless of weather conditions or time of day.

* The Collaboration: NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. It is a landmark joint mission between NASA (USA) and ISRO (India), marking an unprecedented level of collaboration in Earth observation between the two agencies.

* Significance: The satellite will provide highly detailed data on Earth’s changing ecosystems, ice masses, and crustal deformation, which is critical for understanding climate change, managing natural resources, and predicting natural hazards like earthquakes and landslides.

Ans> (a) Japan

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Development: Japan has successfully developed the world’s first dual-band infrared sensor, marking a significant technological leap in advanced imaging and optics.

* The Technology: This highly advanced sensor is uniquely capable of simultaneously detecting two different bands of infrared light, allowing it to capture exceptionally clear and detailed images regardless of environmental conditions like fog, smoke, or total darkness.

* Significance: This breakthrough innovation holds immense potential to revolutionize various critical sectors, including autonomous driving, advanced security and surveillance systems, and medical imaging.

Ans> (b) Gandhinagar, Gujarat

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the newly constructed ‘Samrat Samprati Museum’ located at the Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra in Koba, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

* The Museum: This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich spiritual heritage, ancient manuscripts, and art of Jainism.

* Historical Significance: It specifically honors the legacy of Mauryan Emperor Samprati, the grandson of Ashoka, who is highly revered in Jain tradition for his immense contributions to the spread and patronage of Jainism across ancient India.

Ans> (d) Dr. Ekta Chauhan

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Book: ‘Sheher Mein Gaon: Culture, Conflict and Change in Urban Villages of Delhi’ is a recently published, insightful sociological book brought out by Penguin India.

* The Author: It is authored by Dr. Ekta Chauhan, who explores the rapid pace of urbanization and its direct impact on traditional, rural setups that get absorbed into a growing metropolis like Delhi.

* Significance: The book provides a deep dive into the cultural shifts, ongoing administrative conflicts, and massive transformations experienced by the local communities living within these unique urban villages.