UPSC GK Capsule: Preparing For Any Upcoming Competitive Exams? Here Are A Few Events of The Week – News18

Last Updated:December 22, 2024, 18:19 IST

If you are preparing for a government exam, we can help you stay updated. Here’s a roundup of the main stories from the previous week

From UPSC Civil Services to SSC recruitment exams, from college admissions to group discussions, general knowledge questions mark a significant part of almost every exam. For candidates preparing to crack an exam or those who need to get their news in a compact form, News18 offers a weekly column – GK Capsule. While we provide you a weekly news wrap, to get more information on a specific topic or an exam, reach out at @news18dotcom.

The General Knowledge (GK) section is often considered a game-changer in competitive exams like the UPSC, SBI Bank PO, and other government exams. Unlike other sections, GK doesn’t require calculations or logical reasoning, making it less time-consuming. However, it demands a knowledge of current affairs, banking knowledge, and static GK. A well-prepared candidate can answer these questions quickly and accurately, which results in maximizing their score.

If you are preparing for a government exam, we can help you stay updated. Here’s a roundup of the main stories from the previous week:

PM Modi In Kuwait For Two-Day Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kuwait on December 21 for a historic two-day visit, which he hailed as a chance to lay the groundwork for a future collaboration between India and the Gulf nation. Notably, this is the first time an Indian prime minister will be visiting the Gulf nation in forty-three years. Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, has invited PM Modi on this journey. PM Modi will visit an Indian labour camp, speak to the Indian community, meet with the top Kuwaiti leadership, and attend the Gulf Cup football tournament’s opening ceremony while in the country.

One Nation, One Poll

On December 18, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a constitutional amendment bill that would allow for simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, marking a major step forward for the BJP-ruled Centre in carrying out its ‘one nation, one poll’ agenda. In order to bring the proposed constitutional amendments into compliance with the laws pertaining to the three Union territories that have legislative assemblies, the Cabinet also adopted two draft laws. It also declared the establishment of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to enable in-depth discussions on the proposed laws.

Delhi-NCR Blames Industries, Garbage For Toxic Air

According to a LocalCircles study, 36 per cent of respondents blamed the return of severely toxic air in Delhi on widespread garbage burning, while 21 per cent pointed to emissions from power plants and industries. More than 20,000 people from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad responded to the study. Men made up 63 per cent of the responders, while women made up 37 per cent. The survey began by asking Delhi NCR residents, “Delhi NCR again has 500+ AQI levels. What according to you is currently the top reason for toxic air?” As per the survey, none of the Delhi-NCR residents polled think that the local civic organisations and pollution control department are doing a good job of enforcing GRAP and related regulations against the sources of pollution.

Zakir Hussain Passes Away At 73

Zakir Hussain died on December 15, in San Francisco. He was aged 73. The tabla Maestro was reportedly hospitalised in the United States. His health deteriorated, ultimately leading to his death. The family issued a statement detailing Zakir Hussain’s death. He died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung illness. According to NDTV, the Padma Bhushan recipient had been in the hospital for the past two weeks. His condition deteriorated, so he was transferred to the intensive care unit.

Russia Develops Cancer Vaccine

In early 2025, the Russian Health Ministry plans to provide patients with a free cancer vaccine that it has developed. Instead of being distributed to the general public to prevent cancer, the vaccine is going to be used to treat cancer patients. According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Andrey Kaprin, the General Director of the Radiology Medical Research Centre of the Russian Ministry of Health, declared that the nation has created its own mRNA vaccine to prevent cancer and that it will be given away for free. It is anticipated that the vaccine will go into widespread use in early 2025.