Online Current Affairs Test - Current Affairs Test - Random (Last 5 months)

Anu Garg’s appointment as Odisha’s first woman Chief Secretary represents a landmark moment in the state’s administrative history. A 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, she brings over three decades of experience across key departments at both state and central levels. Her previous roles include serving as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary and as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. Known for her field-oriented and reform-driven approach, her leadership is expected to strengthen governance, improve Centre–State coordination, and further promote gender diversity in senior civil services.

Saba Shawl was appointed as the Superintendent of Srinagar Central Jail in March 2026, becoming the first Kashmiri woman to hold this position in the history of the facility. Her appointment represents an important step toward greater gender representation in Jammu and Kashmir’s prison administration. Srinagar Central Jail is one of the oldest and most significant correctional institutions in the Union Territory, housing both undertrial prisoners and convicts. As a senior officer in the J&K Prison Department, Saba Shawl has previously served in several roles, gaining extensive experience in jail administration, inmate welfare, and security management.

Amazon, through its cloud division Amazon Web Services (AWS), has entered a $38 billion partnership with OpenAI to enhance AI infrastructure and scalability. Announced on November 3, 2025, the agreement provides OpenAI access to AWS’s extensive cloud computing resources, including millions of CPUs and hundreds of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs. This collaboration marks one of the largest AI infrastructure deployments in history and signifies a major strategic shift for OpenAI, which previously relied exclusively on Microsoft Azure. The deal strengthens Amazon’s position as a key competitor in the global AI and cloud computing market.

Bajaj Finserv AMC introduced the ‘Pay with Mutual Fund’ feature, enabling investors to make UPI payments directly using their mutual fund holdings. This facility leverages the Insta Redemption mechanism, allowing redemption of up to ₹50,000 or 90% of the investment in real time. By partnering with fintech firm Curie Money, Bajaj Finserv ensures seamless integration of investment and payment systems, allowing users to maintain liquidity while earning higher returns than traditional savings accounts. This innovation marks a significant step in making mutual fund investments instantly usable for everyday transactions, blending investing with payment convenience.

The Government of India has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zomato to generate around 2.5 lakh job opportunities every year through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. This collaboration aims to integrate gig and platform-based employment into India’s formal job ecosystem. By doing so, it seeks to provide better access to job opportunities for youth, ensure transparency in recruitment, and support the rapidly growing gig economy by offering structured and officially recognised employment pathways.

The 13th edition of the India–Kyrgyzstan Joint Military Exercise KHANJAR-XIII will be held at Misamari in the state of Assam from February 4 to 17, 2026. Misamari is a key military training location in Northeast India, offering diverse terrain suitable for advanced combat training. The exercise will involve elite Special Forces from both countries, focusing on counter-terrorism, urban warfare, and special operations under United Nations mandates. Hosting the exercise in Assam highlights India’s strategic emphasis on its eastern region and strengthens defence cooperation with Kyrgyzstan.

Pokhran was the location where the Indian Army’s Konark Corps carried out the successful test firing of the Strela-10 Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS). The exercise took place at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan’s desert sector. The missile system, launched from a BMP-based mobile platform, achieved direct hits on simulated low-altitude aerial targets such as aircraft, helicopters, and drones. The drill demonstrated operational readiness, effective surveillance integration, strong crew coordination, and accurate engagement under challenging desert conditions, reinforcing India’s air defence preparedness in strategically sensitive regions.

The bank credit growth for October 2025 stood at 11.3%, reflecting a slowdown in lending activity across the financial sector. This moderation is linked to factors such as reduced loan demand, cautious lending behaviour by banks, and broader global economic uncertainties. Slower credit growth can impact industries, MSMEs, NBFCs and retail borrowers by delaying investment cycles and affecting expansion plans. Meanwhile, deposit growth accelerated, creating a liquidity surplus that may pressure banks to rethink their strategies for deploying funds efficiently. The 11.3% figure is significant because it highlights a pivotal shift in India’s credit-deposit dynamics and signals potential policy considerations ahead.

SEBI proposed a uniform 30-day lag on sharing and using stock price data to ensure investor education remains informative without turning into investment advice. The move addresses concerns that very recent data could be misused, while excessively old data reduces educational value. By standardising the time lag, SEBI aims to strike a balance between data protection and relevance of learning material. The proposal also helps clearly distinguish education from advisory or research activities, which require stricter regulatory compliance. As India’s securities market regulator, SEBI plays a crucial role in protecting investors, ensuring transparency, and maintaining fairness in capital markets.

Aryaman Finance Ltd is the entity that obtained registration from the Reserve Bank of India on December 24, 2025, as a Type II Non-Banking Financial Institution, classified as a non-deposit taking Investment and Credit Company. This regulatory approval allows the company to legally operate in the lending and credit space. With this development, the parent company, Aryaman Financial Services Ltd, gains the ability to diversify its business operations beyond merchant banking. The RBI license is significant because it marks a strategic expansion into regulated financial activities, strengthening the group’s overall financial services portfolio.

February 27 is observed globally as World NGO Day in 2026, recognizing the vital contributions of non-governmental organisations across sectors such as education, healthcare, environmental protection, human rights, and disaster relief. The day serves as an international platform to appreciate NGOs for their grassroots efforts and to promote awareness, advocacy, and collaboration. It highlights the role of civil society in addressing social inequalities, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. The observance encourages citizens, institutions, and governments to actively participate through volunteering, donations, partnerships, and community initiatives that strengthen the global NGO ecosystem.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed every year on November 25. This date commemorates the assassination of the Mirabal Sisters in 1960, whose activism against dictatorship made them symbols of resistance and courage. The observance marks the beginning of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, culminating on December 10, Human Rights Day. The annual campaign brings together governments, communities, and global organisations to address violence in all its forms—physical, emotional, economic, and now increasingly digital. The 2025 theme emphasizes combating online abuse, reflecting the evolving landscape of threats faced by women worldwide.

The 19th Mid-Term Ministerial of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is being hosted in Kampala, Uganda, with Uganda holding the NAM Chair for the 2024–26 term. Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, is leading the Indian delegation to the event. The theme of the ministerial, "Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence," emphasises the importance of solidarity and partnership among NAM member countries to promote equitable global development and mutual prosperity. Uganda’s leadership role reinforces its commitment to fostering stronger South-South cooperation and advancing NAM’s founding principles.

China launched the Shenzhou-21 mission to its Tiangong Space Station, marking another milestone in its rapidly advancing space programme. The mission carried three astronauts — including 32-year-old Wu Fei, the nation’s youngest astronaut — and four lab mice for biological experiments in microgravity. Conducted from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre using a Long March-2F rocket, the mission aims to expand research on space-based biology, maintenance operations, and spacewalks. This achievement aligns with China’s long-term goal of landing humans on the Moon by 2030 and reinforces its position as a key global player in space exploration and scientific innovation.

NITI Aayog partnered with the NIIT Foundation by signing a Statement of Intent aimed at improving digital literacy and skill development in India’s Aspirational Blocks. The initiative targets around 1.2 lakh beneficiaries and emphasizes inclusivity, with at least 40% participation from women. The collaboration focuses on providing digital skills training, enhancing financial awareness, and offering vocational and employability programs. By concentrating on underserved and backward regions, the effort seeks to create equitable growth opportunities, reduce the digital divide, and empower communities with skills essential for participation in the modern digital economy.

The 69th National School Games Under-19 Table Tennis Tournament has commenced in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing together nearly 400 young athletes from 34 states, union territories, and various organizations. The event is being hosted at the Gymnasium Hall of the University of Jammu, providing a competitive platform for emerging talent in table tennis. Such tournaments play a crucial role in encouraging sportsmanship, fostering youth development, and identifying potential players for higher-level competitions. By organizing the event in Jammu and Kashmir, the region continues to strengthen its position as a hub for national sporting activities and youth engagement.

The Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics was inaugurated in New Delhi to showcase relics associated with Bhagwan Buddha and to promote his teachings of peace, compassion, and harmony. The Piprahwa relics are historically significant as archaeological findings suggest that Piprahwa was the burial site of a portion of Buddha’s ashes. By hosting the exhibition in the national capital, the event gains global visibility and cultural importance. It also highlights India’s rich Buddhist heritage while strengthening awareness of ancient archaeological discoveries and their relevance in spreading Buddhist philosophy worldwide.

Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu emerged as the top performers among large states in NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index 2024. The index evaluates states’ export readiness based on infrastructure, business ecosystem, policy and governance, and export performance. Maharashtra ranked first, followed by Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, reflecting their strong trade infrastructure, supportive business environment, effective policy implementation, and robust export outcomes. By highlighting state-level strengths and gaps, the index guides policy decisions and promotes peer learning, aiming to enhance India’s overall competitiveness in global trade through targeted export strategies and regional economic planning.

IIT Delhi developed AILA, an advanced AI-powered laboratory assistant designed to transform the way scientific experiments are conducted. AILA uses agentic AI, enabling it to plan, decide, and adapt in a manner similar to a human researcher. It can independently design experiments, carry them out, and analyze results without continuous human intervention. The system was successfully demonstrated by controlling an Atomic Force Microscope in real time, highlighting its practical capabilities. One of its most significant advantages is efficiency, as it can reduce experiment durations from hours or even days to just a few minutes, accelerating research outcomes.

ColoNoX is a nitric-oxide-releasing wound dressing introduced by the Department of Atomic Energy through BARC to address diabetic foot ulcers, a condition that often requires advanced therapeutic solutions due to slow healing and high infection risk. This innovation marks a major step in integrating nuclear research with biomedical applications, enabling controlled nitric oxide release that supports antimicrobial action, improved blood flow, and enhanced tissue repair. Its development strengthens India’s medical technology capabilities and demonstrates the potential of cross-disciplinary research in creating effective healthcare interventions for chronic and complex wounds.