1.

Which country overtook Japan to become the

world's third largest economy?
a. India
b. Germany
c. France
d. Brazil
Answer: b. Germany

- Japan's economy has unexpectedly contracted,

leading the country towards recession.
- Japan has slipped behind Germany in terms of being
the world's third-largest economy.
- According to government figures, in the final quarter
of 2023, it fell behind Germany in terms of the size of
its economy.
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- Total domestic production in Japan shrank at an
annual rate of 0.4 percent in the last three months of
2023.
Japan:
- Capital - Tokyo
- Emperor - Naruhito
- Prime Minister - Fumio Kishida
- Currency - Japanese Yen
- Population - 125 million
Top 5 Economies:
1- USA
2- China
3- Germany
4- Japan
5- India
Germany:
Capital - Berlin
Chancellor - Olaf Scholz
Currency - Euro
The reasons for falling behind Germany are as
follows:
- Currency depreciation: There was a depreciation of
more than 18% in the yen against the dollar in 2022
and 2023, making it easier for Germany to excel due
to the stability of the euro against the dollar.
- Economic slowdown in Japan: Japan's technical
recession, marked by consecutive quarters of
economic contraction, contributed to falling behind
Germany in GDP rankings.
- The country is grappling with an aging population
and declining birth rates, which are affecting its
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economic prospects.
- Japanese consumers have to struggle with inflation
to obtain food, fuel, and other goods. Japan imports
94% of its energy needs and 63% of its food items.
- Consequently, the weakening yen has led to
inflationary pressures in Japan.
- Detriment from a weak yen: Both Japan and
Germany have built their economies through small and
medium-sized enterprises. In contrast to Japan,
Germany took solid economic steps to deal with a
strong euro and currency fluctuations. The weak yen
has also been detrimental to Japan.
Until 2010, Japan held the second position:
- In 2010, China surpassed Japan to become the
world's second-largest economy after the United
States. Japan slipped to the third position at that time
and has now reached the fourth position.
In 2026, India will surpass Japan:
- India is the world's fifth-largest economy.
- According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
supported by a large and growing young population,
India's economy is expected to surpass Japan by 2026
and Germany by the following year, 2027.
- India's youthful population, with a majority under 35
years of age, is driving rapid economic development
compared to the aging populations of Japan and
Germany.
The world's two largest economies are facing
recession:
- The world's two largest economies, Britain and
Japan, have been caught in the whirlpool of recession.
- Reuters reported on February 15, 2024, that Britain's
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economy fell into recession in the second quarter of
2023 before the elections scheduled for the end of
2024.
- In Britain, there has been a 0.3 percent decline in
total domestic production (GDP) in the three months
leading up to December 2023, which was further
weakened by 0.1 percent between July and
September.
Japan:
Capital - Tokyo
Emperor - Naruhito
Prime Minister - Fumio Kishida
Currency - Japanese Yen
Population - 125 million
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2. Who became the new Speaker of Bihar
Assembly?
a. Tejashwi Yadav
b. Nand Kishore Yadav
c. Awadh Bihari Chaudhary
d. Rakesh Pratap Verma
Answer: b. Nand Kishore Yadav
- Nand Kishor Yadav, a senior leader of the BJP and
former minister, has been unanimously elected as the
new Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
- Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with the leader of
the house and Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the
opposition, were also elected.
- This is the third time the election for the chairman
has taken place after the 2020 legislative assembly
elections.
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- Before Nand Kishor Yadav, Avadh Bihari Chaudhary
was the chairman.
- Nand Kishor Yadav began his political journey in
1978.
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3. In which city has the Ministry of Culture
established the regional center of the Sangeet
Natak Academy, which will be known as the South
India Cultural Centre?
a. Chennai
b. Mumbai
c. Kollam
d. Hyderabad
Answer: d. Hyderabad
- Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu
inaugurated the South India Cultural Center in
February 2024.
- The new center of the Music and Drama Academy is
located in Hyderabad.
- It will function as a center for the promotion and

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preservation of various art forms, including music, folk
and tribal arts, theater, and puppetry.
Music and Drama Academy:

- The Music and Drama Academy is the first national

academy established by the Government of India for
the promotion of art.
- Established: May 31, 1952
- Headquarters: Ravindra Bhavan, Delhi
- It operates under the Ministry of Culture.
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4. Name the first Indian company whose market
capitalization crossed Rs 20 lakh crore?
a. Reliance Industry
b. TCS
c. HDFC bank
d. ICICI Bank
Answer: a. Reliance Industry
- Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is the first company
in India to achieve this milestone.
- Reliance is the 48th company in the world to reach
this milestone.
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- On February 13, 2024, the market capitalization of
India's largest company, Reliance Industries, crossed
₹20 lakh crore.

- The company's shares reached an all-time high of

₹2,958, leading to an increase in the company's
market capitalization.
- In terms of market capitalization, Reliance Industries
is the largest company in the country.
- Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance
Industries, is the richest person in India, with a total
net worth of ₹9.38 lakh crore.
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5. Which court ruled that the appointment of
Deputy CM in states is not unconstitutional?
a. Delhi High Court
b. Allahabad High Court
c. Patna High Court
d. Supreme Court

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Answer: d. Supreme Court
- On February 12, 2024, the Supreme Court
pronounced its verdict regarding the appointment of
Deputy Chief Ministers (Deputy CMs) in states.
- A bench of three judges led by Chief Justice D. Y.
Chandrachud stated that the appointment of Deputy
CMs is not against the constitution. It is merely a
convention given to senior leaders.
- This process is adopted to give more importance to
alliances of parties in the government or other senior
leaders.
- The Deputy CM is the first and most significant
minister in the state government after the CM.
- This petition was filed in the Supreme Court by a
political party.
- The petition claimed that there is no provision for a
Deputy CM in the constitution.
- As of February 2024, there are 26 Deputy Chief
Ministers in 14 states across the country.
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6. In which city was the seventh Indian Ocean
Conference held, in which the Indian team was led
by the External Affairs Minister?
a. Perth (Australia)
b. Colombo (Sri Lanka)
c. Kathmandu (Nepal)
d. New Delhi, India)
Answer: a. Perth (Australia)

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- Date of Event: February 9th and 10th, 2024
- Theme of 2024: Towards a Stable and Sustainable
Indian Ocean
- The objective of the conference is to discuss ways to
create a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indian
Ocean.
- Representatives from 40 countries participated in the
conference.
- Participants included Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S.
Jaishankar, Sri Lankan President Ranil
Wickremesinghe, Australian Foreign Minister Penny
Wong, and Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian
Balakrishnan.
Indian Ocean Conference:
- It serves as a key consultative forum for countries in
the Indian Ocean region.
- Organized annually by the Indian Ministry of External
Affairs with the support of the Indian Foundation and
other countries.
- The first conference was held in Singapore in 2016.
Indian Ocean Region:
- It stretches from the Malacca Strait to the
Mozambique Channel, covering the western coast of
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Australia.
- It holds strategic importance for South Asia, the
Middle East, East Africa, and the surrounding islands.
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7. Indian men's football team fell to seven-year low

in FIFA rankings in February 2024, tell the
ranking?
a. 102
b. 109
c. 112
d. 117
Answer: d. 117
- In the FIFA rankings of February 2024, the Indian
national football team has dropped 15 places to 117th
position.
- This is the lowest position in the past seven years.
- The reason behind this is the defeat in the AFC
Asian Cup. After the Asian Cup, not only did the
team's morale suffer, but its FIFA ranking also took a
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hit, as India suffered a loss of 35.63 rating points.
- Captain of the Indian Men's Football Team: Sunil
Chhetri
At the top is Argentina:
- The reigning world champions, Argentina, hold the
first position in the rankings.
- Following them are France, England, Belgium, and
Brazil.
FIFA:
- President: Gianni Infantino
- Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
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8. The Income Tax Department froze the bank
accounts of which political party, after which the
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal lifted some
restrictions?
a. RJD b. Congress
c. BJP d. BSP
Answer: b. Congress

- On February 16, 2024, the Income Tax Appellate

Tribunal lifted some restrictions on the Congress
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party's frozen accounts.
- Prior to this, the Congress party had alleged that its
bank accounts had been frozen.
- Ajay Maken, the National Treasurer of the Congress,
stated in a press conference that the Income Tax
department demanded a recovery of 210 crore rupees
from the Youth Congress and the Congress party.
- The party had filed its income tax returns for the
fiscal year 2018-19 with a delay of 45 days, which led
to action by the Income Tax department.
- Following this, the Congress party stated that they
were unable to pay electricity bills or salaries to
employees. However, the accounts were later
unfrozen, but a significant amount remained frozen.
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9. Which city was awarded the title of 'Water
Warrior' by the Department of Water Resources,
River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under
the Union Water Ministry?
a. Noida
b. Chandigarh
c. Mumbai
d. Patna
Answer: a. Noida
- During the World Water Awards 2023-24 held in
Delhi, Noida was conferred with the title of 'Water
Warrior' during a ceremony.
- The city earned recognition for having the best
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and was also praised
for its water reuse project.
- Recognizing the importance of maintaining
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waterways, the Noida Authority has devised a strategy
for water drainage management.
Noida - It is a city in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district
of Uttar Pradesh.
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