CLAT UG Current Affairs, including General Knowledge Syllabus

What was the significance of the Dandi March (Salt March) of 1930?

Led by Mahatma Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, it broke the British salt law and launched the Civil Disobedience Movement as a mass act of nonviolent resistance.

Which three Round Table Conferences were held, and what was their purpose?

Held in London (1930, 1931, 1932) to discuss constitutional reforms for India; the second (1931) was attended by Gandhi as the sole Congress representative under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

What major political change occurred in India on 26 January 1950?

The Constitution of India came into force, making India a sovereign democratic republic; the day is celebrated as Republic Day.

Which river is the longest in India, and through how many states does it primarily flow?

The Ganga (Ganges), about 2,525 km long, flowing mainly through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.

What is the Tropic of Cancer, and approximately how many Indian states does it pass through?

A line of latitude at about 23.5 degrees North marking the northern limit of the Sun's direct overhead position; it passes through 8 Indian states (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizuram - i.e. Mizoram).

Which is the highest mountain peak entirely within India, and in which range/region is it?

Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), located in Sikkim in the eastern Himalayas; it is the third-highest peak in the world and the highest in India.

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is the short-term, day-to-day state of the atmosphere (temperature, rainfall, wind) at a place; climate is the average weather conditions of a region observed over a long period (typically 30+ years).

What causes the southwest monsoon in India?

The differential heating of land and sea: intense summer heating of the Indian landmass creates low pressure, drawing moisture-laden winds from the high-pressure Indian Ocean toward the subcontinent from roughly June to September.

What is the difference between a renewable and a non-renewable source of energy, with examples?

Renewable sources are naturally replenished and effectively inexhaustible (solar, wind, hydro, biomass); non-renewable sources exist in finite amounts and deplete with use (coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear fuels like uranium).

In the context of recent space achievements, what was India's Chandrayaan-3 mission notable for?

In August 2023 it made India the first country to soft-land near the lunar south pole and the fourth country overall to achieve a soft landing on the Moon; its lander was named Vikram and rover Pragyan.

What is the name of India's first solar observation mission, and what does it study?

Aditya-L1, launched by ISRO in September 2023 to study the Sun from the L1 Lagrange point, observing the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.

What is CRISPR-Cas9, and why is it significant?

A gene-editing technology that allows precise modification of DNA sequences; it is significant for potential treatment of genetic diseases and earned its developers the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

What is the difference between artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning?

AI is the broad field of machines simulating human intelligence; ML is a subset where systems learn patterns from data; deep learning is a subset of ML using multi-layered neural networks to learn complex representations.

What does 'GDP' stand for, and how does it differ from 'GNP'?

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is the total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders; GNP (Gross National Product) adds net income earned by residents abroad and subtracts income earned by foreigners domestically.

What is the repo rate, and which body sets it in India?

The rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends short-term funds to commercial banks; it is set by the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and is a key tool to control inflation and liquidity.

What does 'inflation' mean, and what distinguishes it from 'deflation'?

Inflation is a sustained rise in the general price level, reducing the purchasing power of money; deflation is a sustained fall in the general price level, increasing purchasing power but often signalling weak demand.

Which Indian institution is responsible for regulating the securities market, and what does its acronym stand for?

SEBI - the Securities and Exchange Board of India, a statutory body established in 1992 to protect investors and regulate stock markets and intermediaries.

What is the significance of the G7, and which countries comprise it?

The Group of Seven is a forum of advanced economies coordinating on global economic and political issues: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (with the EU participating).

What does NATO stand for, and what is the core principle of its founding treaty?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; Article 5 of its treaty embodies collective defence - an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all.

Which two countries became the most recent members of NATO in 2023 and 2024?

Finland joined in April 2023 and Sweden joined in March 2024, expanding NATO to 32 members, largely in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

What is the World Health Organization (WHO), and where is it headquartered?

A specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, coordinating disease response and setting health standards; it is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

What are the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and what special power do they hold?

China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (P5); each holds veto power, meaning any one can block the adoption of a substantive resolution.

What is the difference between a glacier and an iceberg?

A glacier is a large, persistent mass of ice formed on land from compacted snow that flows slowly downhill; an iceberg is a piece of freshwater ice that has broken off (calved) from a glacier or ice shelf and floats in the ocean.

What is the function of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and where does it sit?

The principal judicial organ of the UN, it settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions; it sits at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

What is the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal in India?

A proposal to synchronise elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies so they are held simultaneously, aimed at reducing the cost and frequency of elections; a high-level committee under former President Ram Nath Kovind recommended its phased implementation.

Which major appointment makes a person the constitutional head of the armed forces of India?

The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, though actual command is exercised through the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs.

What does 'Vande Bharat' refer to in recent Indian infrastructure news?

Vande Bharat Express trains - indigenously designed semi-high-speed self-propelled electric trainsets introduced by Indian Railways to improve intercity connectivity.

What is the difference between a cyclone, a hurricane, and a typhoon?

They are the same phenomenon - a tropical storm with a low-pressure centre and high winds - named by region: cyclone (Indian Ocean and South Pacific), hurricane (Atlantic and Northeast Pacific), and typhoon (Northwest Pacific).

What is the significance of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959?

It designates Antarctica as a scientific preserve, bans military activity and mineral mining on the continent, and establishes freedom of scientific investigation, making it the first arms-control agreement of the Cold War era.

In recent global news, what does 'COP' to 'Loss and Damage Fund' refer to?

A fund formally operationalised at COP28 (2023) to provide financial assistance to developing nations most vulnerable to and affected by the adverse effects of climate change.