Current Affairs and General Knowledge
Important International Organizations
United Nations (UN)
Founded in 1945 after WWII. Currently 193 member states. Headquarters: New York.
Key organs:
- General Assembly: All member states, one vote each — “parliament of nations”
- Security Council: 15 members (5 permanent: US, UK, France, Russia, China — P5; 10 rotating)
- Secretariat: Headed by Secretary-General (António Guterres since 2017)
- International Court of Justice (ICJ): The Hague — settles legal disputes between states
Permanent members of Security Council (P5): Veto power — any one can block a resolution.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1948. Key role in global health — coordinates responses to pandemics, sets standards, provides technical assistance.
- WHO’s current priorities: Universal health coverage, health emergencies, healthier populations
- Controversy: COVID-19 pandemic response (origin investigations, vaccine distribution) was debated globally
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Headquarters: Geneva. Governs international trade rules. Has 164 members. Handles trade disputes, negotiates trade agreements, monitors trade policies.
- Doha Round: Ongoing trade negotiation round launched in 2001 (still incomplete)
- Recent focus: E-commerce, investment, trade-related aspects of IP rights (TRIPS)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Headquarters: Washington D.C. Provides financial assistance to member countries facing balance of payments problems. Lending programs come with conditions (structural adjustment).
- World Economic Outlook (WEO): Semi-annual publication analyzing global economic trends
- Quota system: Determines voting power — US has largest share (~17%)
World Bank
Headquarters: Washington D.C. Provides loans and grants to developing countries for infrastructure, education, health.
- International Development Association (IDA): Soft loans to poorest countries
- International Finance Corporation (IFC): Supports private sector investment
- Goals: End extreme poverty, promote shared prosperity
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
Military alliance of 31 North American and European countries. Founded 1949.
- Article 5: An attack on one member is an attack on all (collective defense)
- Recent focus: Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022); NATO has expanded eastward (Finland 2023, Sweden 2024)
- Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Important Summits and Groups
G20 (Group of Twenty)
19 major economies + EU. Accounts for ~85% of global GDP, ~75% of international trade.
- 2023 Summit: New Delhi, India (first G20 President from India)
- Theme (2023): “One Earth, One Family, One Future”
- Outcome: Delhi Declaration, launch of Global Biofuels Alliance, Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET)
- G20 members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK, USA + EU
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)
Emerging economies. Established 2009 (originally BRIC, 2006). South Africa joined in 2010.
- 2023 Summit (Johannesburg): Expanded membership — Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia (5 new countries)
- Goal: Multipolar world order, reduce dollar dominance
- New Development Bank (NDB): Established as an alternative to World Bank
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
10-member regional grouping (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia).
- Promotes economic integration, cultural exchange, regional stability
- India is a “ASEAN Dialogue Partner” (not member)
- ASEAN-India Summit: Annual meetings
- RCEP: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership — ASEAN + China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India (India withdrew in 2019)
Nobel Prize Winners (Recent)
| Year | Physics | Chemistry | Medicine | Literature | Peace | Economic Sciences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | AI/neural networks | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | Attosecond physics | Quantum dots | mRNA tech | Jon Fosse | Nargis Mohammadi | Claudia Goldin |
| 2022 | Quantum entanglement | Click chemistry | Human evolution | Annie Ernaux | Ales Bialiatski + 2 orgs | Bernanke, Diamond, Dhiblas |
- 2023 Economic Sciences (Claudia Goldin): First woman to document the entire history of women’s participation in the labor market
- Peace (Nargis Mohammadi): Iranian human rights activist imprisoned
- Physics (Attosecond): Generated light pulses for observing electron motion
Important Dates (Current Affairs)
| Date | Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| April 5 | Easter (Moveable — March/April) | Christian holiday |
| October 2 | Gandhi Jayanti | Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi; International Non-Violence Day |
| August 15 | Independence Day (India, 1947) | End of British rule |
| January 26 | Republic Day (India, 1950) | Constitution came into effect |
| December 10 | Human Rights Day | Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted (1948) |
| June 5 | World Environment Day | UN designated |
| November 14 | Children’s Day (India) | Birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru |
Important Sports Events
- 2024 Paris Olympics: India won 6 medals (5 bronze, 1 silver — Neeraj Chopra javelin silver)
- 2022 FIFA World Cup: Argentina won (Messi finally won it)
- Cricket World Cup 2023: Australia beat India in final; Australia won 6th title
- Asian Games 2023 (Hangzhou): India won 107 medals (best overseas showing)
- Indian athletes: Neeraj Chopra (javelin), Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), Sundar (boxing)
Major Government Schemes (Current)
| Scheme | Sector | Launch | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital India | IT | 2015 | Broadband, digital infrastructure |
| Start-up India | Entrepreneurship | 2016 | Tax breaks, funding, simplified rules |
| Skill India | Employment | 2015 | Vocational training, PM-VISHWAKARMA |
| Atmanirbhar Bharat | Self-reliance | 2020 | Vocal for local, PLI scheme |
| PLI (Production Linked Incentive) | Manufacturing | 2020 | Incentives for electronics, pharma, auto |
| National Infrastructure Pipeline | Infrastructure | 2019 | ₹111 lakh crore projects |
| PM Gati Shakti | Logistics | 2022 | Integrated multimodal infrastructure planning |
CTET Exam Focus
- UN: Security Council (P5 with veto), General Assembly, ICJ; 193 member states
- WHO: Global health coordination, COVID-19 response
- WTO: Trade rules, Doha Round
- IMF/World Bank: Economic governance, lending programs
- G20: 2023 New Delhi summit, India as President; themes; Delhi Declaration
- BRICS: Expansion (5 new members), NDB
- ASEAN: India’s dialogue partner, 10 members, RCEP
- Nobel Prize: Recent winners (Goldin 2023, mRNA tech 2023, Attosecond 2023)
- Important dates: Gandhi Jayanti, Republic Day, Independence Day, Human Rights Day
- Sports: Paris Olympics 2024, Cricket World Cup 2023, Asian Games 2023
- Government schemes: Digital India, PLI, PM Gati Shakti, Atmanirbhar Bharat
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