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Current Affairs Miscellaneous

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Current Affairs Miscellaneous

🟢 Lite — Quick Review

Current Affairs Miscellaneous in MAT draws from a broad range of topics including government appointments, legislative developments, major agreements, important personalities in news, Supreme Court judgments, economic updates, and international relations developments from the preceding 12–18 months. This category fills gaps left by other GK sections and frequently includes questions on government schemes, MoUs, and personalities who have been prominently in the news.

Key facts to memorise:

  • President of India: Droupadi Murmu (since July 2022; first tribal woman President; former Governor of Jharkhand; NDA candidate; defeated Yashwant Sinha in the electoral college)
  • Prime Minister: Narendra Modi (since May 2014; BJP-led NDA; 3rd term after 2024 Lok Sabha elections)
  • Chief Justice of India: D.Y. Chandrachud (since November 2022; son of former CJI Y.V. Chandrachud; notable rulings on Article 370, same-sex marriage, abortion rights)
  • RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das (appointed 2018; 5-year term; has overseen monetary policy through COVID and inflation shocks)
  • Election Commission: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar (as of 2024; Gyanesh Kumar also a CEC)
  • UN Secretary-General: António Guterres (Portugal, 2017–present; reappointed for 2022–2026)
  • Recent government schemes in news: PM Vishwakarma (2023, traditional artisans), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (2024, rooftop solar), Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023)

⚡ MAT Exam Tip: The MAT GK section is drawn largely from the preceding 12–18 months. For current affairs, focus on major appointments, legislative changes (especially those replacing longstanding laws), landmark Supreme Court rulings, and major international visits and agreements. Avoid obscure or technical details — MAT tests awareness, not depth, of current affairs.

🟡 Standard — Regular Study

Important Appointments and Positions

Constitutional and Executive Positions:

President of India: Droupadi Murmu, born on 20 June 1968 in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha (tribal region), belongs to the Santali tribe. She served as a legislator in the Odisha Legislative Assembly (2000–2004) and as Governor of Jharkhand (2015–2021) before being nominated as the NDA candidate for President in 2022. She is the first tribal woman to hold the office, the youngest President (at 64), and the second woman President after Pratibha Patil. She succeeded Ram Nath Kovind.

Vice President of India: Jagdeep Dhankhar (since August 2022), former Governor of West Bengal; succeeded Venkaiah Naidu. The Vice President is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Prime Minister: Narendra Modi has served since 26 May 2014. His third term (2024–2029) follows the NDA’s reduced majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections (240 seats vs 303 in 2019). The NDA依然 remains in power with coalition partners. Key ministers include S. Jaishankar (External Affairs), Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), Amit Shah (Home Affairs), and Rajnath Singh (Defence).

Chief Justice of India: Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud (DY Chandrachud) was appointed Chief Justice on 9 November 2022, succeeding U.U. Lalit. He is the 50th CJI and the son of Y.V. Chandrachud (who served as CJI from 1977 to 1985). His notable rulings include: (1) struck down the Electoral Bonds scheme as unconstitutional (March 2024, 5-judge bench); (2) upheld the revocation of Article 370 (December 2023, 5-judge constitution bench); (3) declined to legalise same-sex marriage but affirmed privacy and dignity rights of LGBTQ+ individuals (October 2023); (4) upheld the right to abortion as part of women’s reproductive rights (September 2022).

Attorney General of India: R. Venkataramani (since October 2022), succeeding K.K. Venugopal. The Attorney General is the Government’s chief legal advisor and appears in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Government.

Chief Election Commissioner: Rajiv Kumar (since February 2024; second term; will serve until February 2027). The CEC is appointed by the President; Gyanesh Kumar was also appointed CEC simultaneously, creating an unusual situation of two CECs — the first time this has happened. Rajiv Kumar had been Election Commissioner since 2019 and was involved in conducting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sushil Chandra (retired 2022) was the previous CEC.

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): Girish Chandra Murmu (since August 2020), succeeding Rajiv Mehrishi. The CAG audits receipts and expenditures of the Union and state governments and public sector companies.

International Appointments:

NATO Secretary-General: Mark Rutte (Netherlands) succeeded Jens Stoltenberg on 1 October 2024. Rutte served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024 (the longest-serving Dutch PM).

World Bank President: Ajay Banga (India-born American) became World Bank President on 2 June 2023, succeeding David Malpass (USA). Ajay Banga was born in Pune, Maharashtra; holds American citizenship; previously served as Chairman of万事达卡 (Mastercard) and Vice Chairman of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. He is the first Indian-born person to head the World Bank.

IMF Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria) was reappointed for a second five-year term from 2024. She is the first person from an emerging market economy to hold the post and the second woman. She previously served at the World Bank and European Commission.

Apple CEO: Tim Cook has led Apple since 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs. He has expanded Apple’s India operations significantly — India is now Apple’s fastest-growing market, with iPhone manufacturing beginning in India (Foxconn facility in Tamil Nadu, Wistron in Karnataka).

Recent Government Schemes and Policies

Major Ongoing Schemes:

  1. PM-KISAN (2019): ₹6,000 per year in three equal ₹2,000 installments to farmer families. Over 9.3 crore families enrolled; uses Direct Benefit Transfer to eliminate middlemen.

  2. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (2018): ₹5 lakh health cover per family per year for bottom 40% (approximately 10.74 crore families). World’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme. Over 28,000 hospitals empanelled; more than 7 crore hospital admissions authorised since launch. Includes 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres upgraded from existing primary health centres.

  3. Digital India (2015): Aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society. Key achievements: UPI (10+ billion transactions monthly), Bharat Net (connects 2+ lakh gram panchayats with optical fibre), Common Service Centres (CSCs) in villages, BHIM app for payments.

  4. PM Awas Yojana: Urban (2015) provides interest subsidy on home loans (₹1 lakh to ₹2.3 lakh depending on income category); Rural (2016) provides ₹1.20 lakh grant in hilly areas, ₹1 lakh in plains. Over 4 crore pucca houses constructed.

  5. PM Vishwakarma (2023): Launched on 17 September 2023 by PM Modi; provides collateral-free credit up to ₹3 lakh (first tranche) and ₹5 lakh (second tranche) for traditional artisans and craftsmen. Covers 18 traditional crafts including carpentry, blacksmithy, pottery, leather work, masonry, painting, weaving, coir work. Beneficiaries receive skill training, modern tools, and digital empowerment.

  6. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (2024): Announced in Interim Budget 2024; provides free electricity to 1 crore households through rooftop solar installations. Budget: ₹75,000 crore. Each household gets up to 300 units free electricity monthly through solar panels. India’s rooftop solar capacity is expected to grow significantly.

  7. JAL Jeevan Mission: Har Ghar Jal — aims to provide tap water to all rural households by 2024 (extended target). Over 11.8 crore household tap connections provided; coverage has transformed rural water access in states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

  8. PM-Jan Dhan Yojana (2014): Financial inclusion; Guinness World Record for most bank accounts opened in a short period. 50+ crore accounts; ₹2 lakh crore+ in deposits; 55% women beneficiaries; RuPay debit card provided to all account holders.

Recent Acts and Amendments

Major Legislation (2022–2024):

  1. Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023): India’s first data protection law; governs how companies collect, store, and process personal data of Indians. Establishes a Data Protection Board of India with enforcement powers. Differs from GDPR (EU) — it is less prescriptive and allows the government to exempt certain agencies from its provisions.

  2. Jan Vishwas Act (2023): Amended 42 Central Acts to decriminalise minor offences and convert them to civil penalties; aims to reduce compliance burden and promote ease of doing business. Examples include the Cinematograph Act (streaming platforms no longer require licence renewals every 10 years) and the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.

  3. Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023): Replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC, 1860) — the colonial-era criminal law. New provisions: community service for petty offences (first-time petty theft, drunk and disorderly behaviour); strict punishment for mob lynching (death or life imprisonment); recognising divorce by mutual consent. Retained many IPC provisions with renumbering and updated language.

  4. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (2023): Replaced the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC, 1973). New provisions: voluntary written confessional statements can be recorded at police station; medical examination of victims of sexual violence within 7 days; digitisation of court processes.

  5. Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (2023): Replaced the Indian Evidence Act (1872). Updated provisions for admissibility of electronic evidence, timestamps on digital documents, and expanded definition of “document” to include electronic records.

  6. Women Reservation Act / Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023): Passed unanimously by both houses in September 2023; reserves 33% of seats in Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. To be implemented after delimitation (redrawing constituency boundaries) based on the next census.

  7. Banking Laws (Amendment) Act 2024: Empowered RBI to supersede boards of banks and directing banks on policy matters; enhanced RBI’s supervisory role over co-operative banks; increased shareholders’ rights.

Major MoUs and Agreements (Recent)

  1. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): Announced at G20 2023 New Delhi Summit. A rail and port connectivity network connecting India to Europe via UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. Designed as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. MoUs signed between India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, USA, France, Germany, Italy. The maritime route includes a port at Fujairah (UAE) and connects to the railways under construction.

  2. India-UAE CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement): Signed February 2022; effective 1 May 2022. Dramatically increased bilateral trade (from $60 billion to $85+ billion within a year); UAE granted market access for Indian textiles, gems and jewellery, pharma; India’s largest trading partner in the Gulf.

  3. India-Australia ECTA (Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement): Signed April 2022; provisional application from December 2022. Increased trade in goods and services; Indian students can work up to 18 months post-graduation in Australia; 30,000 annual working holiday visas for young Indians.

  4. India-France Nuclear Deal: Six EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) reactors proposed at Jaitapur, Maharashtra (largest nuclear power project in the world if built). NPCIL and EDF (Électricité de France) collaboration. The deal has been under negotiation since 2008; finalisation of technical and commercial terms has been protracted.

  5. India-EFTA Trade Agreement (negotiations ongoing): Free trade agreement with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein (European Free Trade Association). India seeks market access for textiles and services; EFTA seeks market access for pharmaceuticals and machinery. Negotiations intensified in 2024.

Notable Personalities in News

Politics:

  • Rahul Gandhi: MP (Waynad and Rae Bareli — won Waynad in 2019, vacated Rae Bareli after brother Priyanka contested); convicted in a 2019 defamation case for his “Modi surname” speech; Supreme Court stayed his conviction in 2024; continues as Congress leader
  • Yogi Adityanath: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh since March 2017; transformed law and order, infrastructure, and religious tourism; Hindutva leader; among the most popular BJP chief ministers
  • S. Jaishankar: External Affairs Minister since 2019 (previously National Security Advisor 2014–19); former Indian Foreign Service officer (1989 batch); known for muscular bilateral diplomacy and managing India’s China, Pakistan, and great power relationships

Business:

  • Gautam Adani: Chairman of Adani Group; in January 2023, Hindenburg Research (US short-seller) published a report alleging “brazen manipulation” and “accounting fraud”; Adani Group stocks lost over $150 billion in market capitalisation; Adani Group denied allegations; the Supreme Court set up a committee which found no regulatory failure; Gautam Adani remains India’s second-richest person
  • Mukesh Ambani: Chairman of Reliance Industries; 5G rollout (Jio); announced succession plan (children Isha, Akash, Anant given leadership roles in retail, energy, and new energy businesses respectively); remains India’s richest person

Nobel Prize (Recent Winners):

  • 2024 Physics: John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton (artificial neural networks and machine learning)
  • 2024 Chemistry: David Baker, Dennis Caswell, Demis Hassabis (computational protein design and AlphaFold)
  • 2024 Medicine: Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun (microRNA discovery)
  • 2024 Peace: Nihon Hidankyo (Japanese hibakusha — survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki)
  • 2024 Literature: Han Kang (South Korean author of The Vegetarian, Human Acts)
  • 2023 Peace: Narges Mohammadi (Iranian human rights activist; she is imprisoned and could not attend)

🔴 Extended — Deep Study

Supreme Court Landmark Judgments (Recent)

Same-Sex Marriage (2023):

In Supriyo vs Union of India, a five-judge constitution bench heard petitions seeking legalisation of same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954. The court declined to direct the government to amend SMA, with a 3-2 majority. However, all five judges affirmed that the right to privacy (Article 21), dignity, and autonomy belong to LGBTQ+ individuals. The majority opinions emphasised that societal acceptance and legal recognition require legislative action, not judicial mandate. Justice Sanjay Kishor Kaul (in his parting remarks) criticised the government’s “uniform approach” to sexuality as “constitutionally impermissible.”

Article 370 (December 2023):

In a 5-judge constitution bench ruling (慢性), the Supreme Court upheld the Presidential Order of 5 August 2019 that revoked Article 370 (granting Jammu & Kashmir its own constitution and flag) and the subsequent reorganisation into two Union Territories (Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh). The Court held that the revocation was a valid exercise of presidential power under Article 370(1), and that the state’s integration into India was complete and irreversible. The judgment was delivered on 11 December 2023.

Abortion Rights (2022):

In X vs Principal Secretary, the Supreme Court (5-judge bench) held that the right to abortion is part of women’s reproductive rights under Article 21. It extended the time limit for abortion from 20 weeks to 24 weeks for special categories including survivors of sexual assault, victims of domestic abuse, minors, and women with disabilities. The Court also held that unmarried women in consensual relationships are entitled to abortion under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

Electoral Bonds (March 2024):

In a 5-judge bench ruling, the Supreme Court struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme (introduced by the BJP government in 2017) as unconstitutional. The Court held that anonymous political donations violated the voter’s right to know under Article 19(1)(a). The Court directed the State Bank of India to stop issuing electoral bonds and to disclose all details of bonds purchased since 2017. The subsequent disclosure revealed that the BJP received over 50% of all electoral bonds; Congress was the second-largest recipient.

Economic Updates and Policy

RBI Monetary Policy:

The RBI’s MPC has maintained the repo rate at 6.5% since February 2023 (after raising it from 4% in 11 consecutive hikes between May 2022 and February 2023). Inflation moderated from a peak of 7.8% (April 2022, CPI) to approximately 4.5–5% by 2024, within the RBI’s target band of 4% ±2%.

Key recent RBI initiatives: Launch of the Lightweight Payments and Settlement System (LPSS) for small-value transactions; Revised Governor’s guidelines on prompt corrective action for banks; expansion of UPI payment limits for specific merchant categories; enabling of 24x7 NEFT and RTGS transactions.

Union Budget 2024–25 Highlights:

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for FY25 (full-year) on 23 July 2024 (first budget of Modi 3.0 government):

  • Fiscal deficit: 5.1% of GDP (down from 5.8% in revised estimate of FY24)
  • Capital expenditure: ₹11.1 lakh crore (18% increase from FY24)
  • Agriculture credit: ₹20 lakh crore target
  • PM Awas Yojana: ₹2.7 lakh crore
  • MGNREGA: ₹86,000 crore
  • Digital India/R&D: ₹1 lakh crore for private sector research incentivisation
  • No change in income tax slabs in the new regime (the government preserved the ₹7 lakh exemption limit in the new tax regime)
  • Crude oil customs: Reduced special additional excise duty on diesel and ATF; export duty on petrol removed

GST Council Updates:

  • 28% GST on online gaming, horse racing, and casinos (implemented 1 October 2023; challenged in Supreme Court by gaming industry)
  • 12.5% customs duty on blending of ethanol with petrol (E20 target of 20% ethanol blending by 2025-26)
  • GST on medical insurance: Under active discussion

Banking Sector:

  • LIC IPO: Life Insurance Corporation of India listed on BSE and NSE on 17 May 2022; issue size ₹21,000 crore; largest IPO in Indian history; retail portion oversubscribed 1.5 times
  • PSU Bank Consolidation: From 27 public sector banks in 2017 to 12 (following mergers: SBI merged its associate banks; Oriental Bank + United Bank merged into PNB; Syndicate Bank merged into Canara Bank; Dena Bank + Vijaya Bank merged into Bank of Baroda)

International Relations Updates

India-China Border:

The eastern Ladakh standoff began in May 2020 with clashes in the Pangong Tso lake area and Galwan Valley. On 15 June 2020, a violent clash at Galwan Valley resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers (including a commanding officer) and an unspecified number of Chinese casualties. No shots were fired (both armies maintain no-fire zone) — casualties resulted from hand-to-hand combat using stones, clubs, and fists.

Following 17 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks and multiple diplomatic meetings (including at the BRICS and G20 summits), disengagement was achieved at several friction points: PP14 (Patrolling Point 14, Galwan Valley), PP15 (Hot Springs), and PP17A (the site of the June 2020 clash). A hotline between the India-China Army and Air Force Chiefs has been established. The border remains militarised with approximately 50,000–60,000 troops each side in the Ladakh sector.

India banned 300+ Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat, PUBG Mobile, UC Browser, and SHEIN. Restrictions were placed on Chinese FDI and Chinese project equipment in telecom networks.

India-Russia Relations:

India’s defence partnership with Russia has been longstanding (T-90 tanks, Su-30MKI aircraft, Mi-17 helicopters). However, post-2022, India faced pressure from the US and Western countries to reduce reliance on Russian defence equipment. The S-400 Triumf air defence missile system (₹40,000 crore deal, signed 2018; deliveries began 2021) was delivered despite US CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) warnings — India received a partial waiver in 2023.

India dramatically increased imports of discounted Russian crude oil after the Russia-Ukraine war (India became Russia’s largest oil buyer in 2023, importing 2 million barrels per day at discounts of $10–20 per barrel). This led to a massive trade imbalance — India’s exports to Russia remained low (approximately $4 billion) while imports exceeded $60 billion.

India-US Relations:

The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) launched in 2022 aims to cooperate on semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, space, and defence manufacturing. General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed an agreement to co-produce fighter jet engines (F414) in India for the HAL Tejas Mk2 — a breakthrough in jet engine technology sharing. India’s Space Act enables greater cooperation with NASA on human spaceflight (Gaganyaan).

India’s stand on Russia-Ukraine: India has refrained from condemning Russia at the UN and abstained on multiple UN resolutions while calling for dialogue and respect for international law. PM Modi met President Putin in Moscow (July 2024) and raised the issue of Indian nationals joining the Russian Army (India pressed for early discharge of Indian nationals recruited by the Russian military under deceptive job offers).

Science and Environment Updates

Space:

  • Chandrayaan-3 (August 2023): Historic lunar south pole landing; Pragyan rover confirmed presence of oxygen, sulphur, iron, and water ice
  • Aditya-L1 (September 2023): Placed at Lagrange Point L1 in January 2024; studying solar corona, solar wind, and flares
  • XPoSat (January 2024): India’s first X-ray polarimeter satellite; studying cosmic X-ray sources
  • SpaDeX (December 2024): Space docking experiment; India became the fourth country (after USA, Russia, China) to successfully demonstrate space docking — two satellites (SDX01 and SDX02) docked in orbit, enabling technology for future space station operations and satellite servicing

Environment:

  • Delhi Air Pollution: GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) invoked GRAP-IV (most severe stage) in November 2024 due to AQI exceeding 400 for several consecutive days; measures included ban on construction activities, restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles, and recommendations for work-from-home
  • India Energy Week 2024: Ethanol blending target advanced to E20 (20% ethanol in petrol) by 2025-26 (original target 2030); India achieved 15% ethanol blending by 2024
  • Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (2023): India launched its carbon credit trading scheme; to establish a regulated market for carbon credits generated through renewable energy, forestry, and other projects

Books, Awards, and Culture

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (India — Recent):

  • Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021)
  • Kumbh Mela (2023)
  • Garba of Gujarat (2023)
  • Nowruz (Parsi New Year celebrated by Parsi community in India, 2024)
  • Total of 15 Intangible Cultural Heritage items from India on UNESCO’s list

Padma Awards 2024: Padma Vibhushan: 4 recipients (includingkonwn personalities); Padma Bhushan: 17; Padma Shri: 118. Sports recipients included Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and others.

MAT Current Affairs Strategy

Topics most likely to appear (based on MAT’s pattern of the past 18 months):

  1. G20 2023 New Delhi Declaration — theme, key outcomes, AU admission
  2. BRICS expansion — new members effective January 2024
  3. Space missions — Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, SpaDeX
  4. Supreme Court judgments — Electoral Bonds, Article 370, Same-Sex Marriage
  5. Major government schemes — PM Vishwakarma, PM Surya Ghar, Digital Personal Data Protection Act
  6. RBI and economic indicators — Repo rate, inflation range, fiscal deficit target
  7. Sports achievements — T20 World Cup 2024, Paris Olympics 2024, Thomas Cup 2022
  8. International appointments — Ajay Banga (World Bank), Mark Rutte (NATO), António Guterres (UN reappointment)

Preparation method: Maintain a current affairs diary noting major events by month. Revise the last 18 months’ events with particular focus on: appointments, agreements, policies, and events where India played a prominent role. Avoid over-emphasis on technical details — MAT tests awareness, not expertise.

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