Persons in News Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), whose demise was condoled by the Prime Minister on 19 May 2026, had served as Chief Minister of which state?
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Correct answer: C — Uttarakhand
PIB describes him as former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and former Union Minister.
Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), who died on 19 May 2026, held which Union portfolio in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government?
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Correct answer: B — Road Transport and Highways
Khanduri was Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Vajpayee government and is credited with executing the Golden Quadrilateral.
Consider the following statements about Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), who died in May 2026: 1. He served two terms as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, 2007–2009 and 2011–2012. 2. The Golden Quadrilateral, executed during his tenure as Road Transport and Highways Minister, was part of Phase II of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the 5,846-km Golden Quadrilateral was part of the first phase of NHDP; Phase II mainly covered the North-South and East-West Corridors.
The original Tagore epigrams whose replicas Sweden gifted to PM Modi in May 2026 were written during Tagore's visits to Sweden in which years?
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Correct answer: A — 1921 and 1926
The originals, recently found in the Swedish National Archives, were created during Tagore's visits to Sweden in 1921 and 1926.
The India–Sweden gift exchange of May 2026 coincided with the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore's:
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Correct answer: C — historic visit to Sweden in 1926
PIB says the exchange coincides with the centenary of Tagore's historic visit to Sweden in 1926.
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi in May 2026 on assuming office as the Prime Minister of which country?
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Correct answer: C — Iraq
PM Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi on assuming office as Prime Minister of Iraq.
PM Modi attended which anniversary celebration of The Art of Living in Bengaluru on 10 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 45th
The PM took part in The Art of Living's 45th anniversary celebrations, which coincided with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's 70th year.
Pochishe Boishakh, observed on 9 May 2026, marks the birth anniversary of whom as per the Bengali calendar?
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Correct answer: D — Rabindranath Tagore
Pochishe Boishakh marks Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary as per the Bengali calendar; the PM paid tribute on the day.
Udant Martand, recalled at the release of IIMC's special issue on 200 years of Hindi journalism, was published from Calcutta in which year?
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Correct answer: B — 1826
Udant Martand, the first Hindi newspaper, was published from Calcutta in 1826.
Which birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram was observed on 5 April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 119th
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said tributes were paid on his 119th birth anniversary.
Consider the following statements about Babu Jagjivan Ram, as described by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: 1. He served as a Cabinet Minister for 35 years. 2. He was Defence Minister during the 1971 war that saw the birth of Bangladesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the ministry: he was a Cabinet Minister for 35 years, and as Defence Minister he led India in the 1971 war.
In his Punyatithi tribute on 3 April 2026, Amit Shah credited Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with establishing:
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Correct answer: C — Hindavi Swarajya
Amit Shah said Shivaji Maharaj united the people and established Hindavi Swarajya.
On 3 April 2026, tributes were paid to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on which occasion?
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Correct answer: D — Punyatithi (death anniversary)
The Home Ministry release says Amit Shah paid tribute on his Punyatithi.
Sree Siddaganga Math, where the President attended Sree Sivakumara Swamiji's birth anniversary celebrations on 1 April 2026, is located in:
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Correct answer: D — Tumakuru
The President's Secretariat said the celebrations were held at Sree Siddaganga Math, Tumakuru, Karnataka.
Which birth anniversary of Dr Sree Sree Sivakumara Mahaswamiji was celebrated on 1 April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 119th
The President attended the 119th birthday celebrations of the Swamiji.
Who was elected Mayor of Paris on 29 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Emmanuel Grégoire
The Paris city council elected Emmanuel Grégoire as mayor with 103 votes on 29 March 2026, succeeding Anne Hidalgo.
Emmanuel Grégoire, elected Mayor of Paris in March 2026, succeeded whom?
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Correct answer: A — Anne Hidalgo
Grégoire succeeded Anne Hidalgo as Mayor of Paris; the city council elected him with 103 votes on 29 March 2026.
Vijaypat Singhania, who died in March 2026, was the former chairman of which business group?
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Correct answer: B — Raymond Group
Vijaypat Singhania led the Raymond Group as chairman for two decades till 2000.
Besides industry, Vijaypat Singhania was known for holding a world record in:
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Correct answer: A — Highest altitude reached in a hot-air balloon
He held the world record for the highest altitude gained in a hot-air balloon.
Vijaypat Singhania, who died on 28 March 2026, had been conferred which national honour?
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Correct answer: C — Padma Bhushan
He was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.
Who was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal on 27 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Balendra Shah
Balendra (Balen) Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party was sworn in by President Ramchandra Paudel.
Balendra Shah, who became Nepal's Prime Minister in March 2026, belongs to which party?
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Correct answer: B — Rastriya Swatantra Party
Shah is a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which won 182 of 275 seats on 5 March 2026.
Consider the following statements about Nepal's new Prime Minister Balendra Shah: 1. He was earlier the Mayor of Kathmandu. 2. He defeated K. P. Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5. 3. He is the first Prime Minister of Nepal from the Madhesi community. Which of the above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
Shah was Kathmandu mayor from May 2022 to January 2026, won Jhapa-5 defeating Oli, and is the first Madhesi PM.
Who was chosen as Iran's new Supreme Leader in March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Mojtaba Khamenei
The Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ali Khamenei, on 8 March 2026.
Which Iranian body chose the new Supreme Leader in March 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Assembly of Experts
The Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics, chose Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader.
How many members does Iran's Assembly of Experts, which chose the Supreme Leader in March 2026, have?
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Correct answer: C — 88
Reuters and Al Jazeera describe the Assembly of Experts as an 88-member body of clerics.
Consider the following statements about Iran's leadership change in March 2026: 1. The Assembly of Experts described Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 2. Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen by Iran's Guardian Council. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The Assembly's statement called him 'the third Leader'; he was chosen by the Assembly of Experts, not the Guardian Council.
Where was the Shaheedi Samagam for the 350th martyrdom year of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur held on 1 March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Navi Mumbai
The Samagam organised by the Maharashtra government was held in Navi Mumbai.
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, whose 350th martyrdom year was marked on 1 March 2026, is revered by which title?
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Correct answer: A — Hind di Chadar
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, is revered as 'Hind di Chadar'.
Whose bust did President Droupadi Murmu unveil at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — C. Rajagopalachari
The President unveiled the bust of C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The bust of C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan replaced the bust of:
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Correct answer: D — Edwin Lutyens
The Rajaji bust at the Grand Open Staircase near Ashok Mandap replaces the bust of Edwin Lutyens.
C. Rajagopalachari, whose bust was unveiled at Rashtrapati Bhavan in February 2026, is described as:
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Correct answer: A — The first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India
PIB describes Rajaji as the first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India.
Mukul Roy, who died on 23 February 2026, had served as Union Minister of which ministry?
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Correct answer: C — Railways
Mukul Roy served as Union Railway Minister in 2012 in the UPA-II government.
Vungzagin Valte, who died on 20 February 2026, was a BJP MLA from which state?
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Correct answer: D — Manipur
Vungzagin Valte was a BJP MLA from Manipur, injured during the May 2023 ethnic violence.
Shashi Tharoor's book 'The Sage who Reimagined Hinduism', released on 19 February 2026, is about which social reformer?
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Correct answer: D — Sree Narayana Guru
The book covers the life, lessons and legacy of Sree Narayana Guru, whose message was 'One Caste, One Religion, One God for humankind'.
Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon, who died on 19 February 2026, represented which Lok Sabha constituency?
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Correct answer: A — Shillong
Syngkon was the Lok Sabha MP from Shillong, Meghalaya, elected in 2024 on a Voice of the People Party ticket.
On 19 February 2026, PM Modi paid tribute to which historical figure on his Jayanti, calling him a 'champion of Swarajya'?
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Correct answer: B — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
The PM paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti, calling him a champion of Swarajya.
Amit Shah addressed the 152nd birth anniversary celebrations of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur on 18 February 2026 in which district of West Bengal?
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Correct answer: B — Nadia
The celebrations were held in Nadia, West Bengal, home to Mayapur, where ISKCON is developing a spiritual centre.
Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur, to whom the Vice President paid tributes on his death anniversary on 17 February 2026, is popularly known as:
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Correct answer: B — Jan Nayak
The Vice President described Karpoori Thakur as a true 'Jan Nayak'.
The Ol Chiki script, whose centenary celebrations were inaugurated on 16 February 2026, is used to write which language?
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Correct answer: B — Santhali
Ol Chiki is used for the Santhali language.
Who invented the Ol Chiki script?
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Correct answer: D — Pandit Raghunath Murmu
President Murmu noted that Pandit Raghunath Murmu invented the Ol Chiki script in 1925.
Consider the following statements about the Ol Chiki script: 1. It was invented in 1925. 2. Before Ol Chiki, Santhali was written only in the Devanagari script. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Before Ol Chiki, Santhali was written in the Roman, Devanagari, Oriya and Bengali scripts.
Sant Sevalal Maharaj, whose birth anniversary is observed on 15 February, is revered as a spiritual leader of which community?
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Correct answer: D — Banjara
Sant Sevalal Maharaj is revered as a spiritual leader of the Banjara community.
Which birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj was observed on 15 February 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 287th
15 February 2026 marked the 287th birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj.
On Sevalal Jayanti 2026, the Telangana Chief Minister announced a grand shrine for Sant Sevalal Maharaj in which forest area?
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Correct answer: A — Nallamala forest
CM Revanth Reddy announced the shrine in the Nallamala forest, Achampet area, where 20 acres have been allocated.
The Coimbatore serial bomb blasts, whose victims the Vice-President remembered on 14 February 2026, took place in which year?
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Correct answer: C — 1998
The Coimbatore serial bomb blasts occurred on 14 February 1998, while L. K. Advani was visiting the city.
Sarojini Naidu, whose birth anniversary was marked on 13 February 2026, became after Independence the first woman Governor of:
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Correct answer: A — United Provinces
Sarojini Naidu became the first woman Governor of the United Provinces, now Uttar Pradesh.
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, remembered by PM Modi on 12 February 2026, founded which organisation?
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Correct answer: B — Arya Samaj
Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj.
In which year did Dayanand Saraswati found the Arya Samaj?
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Correct answer: C — 1875
He founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 to counter the social inequities of the time.
Which principle of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya did the Vice-President say holds enduring relevance for the world, in his tribute on 11 February 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Integral Humanism
The Vice-President said Upadhyaya's principle of Integral Humanism continues to hold enduring relevance for the entire world.
Tributes were paid to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on 11 February 2026. What does this date mark?
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Correct answer: B — His death anniversary
The Prime Minister and Vice-President paid tributes on his death anniversary (punyatithi), 11 February.
Dr Zakir Husain, to whom President Murmu paid tributes on 8 February 2026, was India's:
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Correct answer: B — Third President
Dr Zakir Husain was the third President of India, from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969.
Consider the following about Dr Zakir Husain: 1. He served as Governor of Bihar before becoming Vice-President of India. 2. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously, after his death in office. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. He was Governor of Bihar (1957–62) and then Vice-President (1962–67). He received the Bharat Ratna in 1963, while serving as Vice-President, long before his death in 1969.
M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, to whom tributes were paid on 4 February 2026, later served as Governor of which state?
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Correct answer: D — Bihar
Ayyangar resigned from the Third Lok Sabha to become Governor of Bihar.
Consider the following about M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar: 1. He was the Deputy Speaker of the First Lok Sabha when it was constituted in 1952. 2. He became Speaker after G.V. Mavalankar resigned to become Governor in 1956. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Ayyangar was elected to preside over the Lok Sabha on 8 March 1956 after the sudden death, not resignation, of G.V. Mavalankar.