SBOTS General Knowledge & Current Affairs Syllabus

What are the capitals of the USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey?

USA: Washington, D.C.; Canada: Ottawa; Saudi Arabia: Riyadh; Turkey: Ankara.

What is the largest country by area and the most populous country in the world?

By area, the largest country is Russia. The most populous country is India (which surpassed China in 2023).

When was the United Nations founded, and where is its headquarters?

The United Nations was founded on 24 October 1945. Its headquarters is in New York City, USA.

Name the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China (the P5), each holding veto power.

What is the primary purpose of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

The IMF promotes global monetary cooperation and exchange-rate stability, and provides financial assistance (loans) to member countries facing balance-of-payments problems. HQ: Washington, D.C.

How does the World Bank differ from the IMF in purpose?

The World Bank focuses on long-term development and poverty-reduction lending for projects (infrastructure, education, health), while the IMF focuses on macroeconomic and balance-of-payments stability and short-to-medium-term loans.

What is the World Trade Organization (WTO) and when was it established?

The WTO, established on 1 January 1995 (succeeding GATT), regulates and liberalizes international trade and resolves trade disputes among member countries. HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.

Who invented the telephone and who is credited with inventing the light bulb?

The telephone is credited to Alexander Graham Bell (1876). The practical incandescent light bulb is credited to Thomas Edison (1879).

Who formulated the Theory of Relativity and who discovered the law of gravitation?

Albert Einstein formulated the Theory of Relativity. Sir Isaac Newton formulated the law of universal gravitation.

Who discovered penicillin and in what year?

Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, the first widely used antibiotic.

In which sports/fields are the most prestigious global awards given, e.g., the Ballon d'Or and the Nobel Prize?

The Ballon d'Or is awarded for football (soccer). The Nobel Prize is awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences.

Which country won the FIFA World Cup 2022 and where was it held?

Argentina won the FIFA World Cup 2022, held in Qatar (the first World Cup in the Arab world).

Which Pakistani won the Nobel Peace Prize, and in what year and field?

Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her advocacy of children's and girls' right to education. (Dr. Abdus Salam won the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics.)

What is the national language and the official language of Pakistan?

Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. English is the official language used in government and law.

What is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)?

CPEC is a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative, a network of infrastructure, energy and connectivity projects linking Gwadar Port in Pakistan to Kashgar in western China.

What is SAARC and which countries are its members?

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), founded 1985, promotes regional cooperation. Members: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan.

What is OIC and what does it represent?

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second-largest intergovernmental organization after the UN, representing 57 Muslim-majority member states and serving as the collective voice of the Muslim world. HQ: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

What does GDP (Gross Domestic Product) measure?

GDP is the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a given period. It is a key measure of economic size and growth.

What is inflation and how is it commonly measured in Pakistan?

Inflation is the sustained rise in the general price level of goods and services over time, reducing purchasing power. It is commonly measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

What is the difference between fiscal deficit and trade (current account) deficit?

A fiscal deficit occurs when government expenditure exceeds its revenue. A trade/current account deficit occurs when a country's imports (and outflows) exceed its exports (and inflows) of goods and services.

What is the SI unit of force, and how is it defined?

The SI unit of force is the newton (N), defined as the force needed to accelerate a mass of 1 kilogram at 1 metre per second squared (1 N = 1 kg·m/s²).

What is photosynthesis and what gas does it release?

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose (food); it releases oxygen as a by-product.

What is the chemical formula of water, and what is its boiling point at sea level?

Water's chemical formula is H₂O. It boils at 100 °C (212 °F) at standard atmospheric pressure (sea level).

What does CPU stand for and what is its function in a computer?

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. It is the 'brain' of the computer that executes instructions and performs arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations.

What is the difference between hardware and software?

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer (CPU, monitor, keyboard, memory). Software is the set of programs and instructions (operating systems, applications) that tell the hardware what to do.

What does 'URL' stand for and what does an 'IP address' identify?

URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator, the address of a web page. An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label identifying each device on a network/the internet.

What is a digital wallet, and name a common one used in Pakistan.

A digital wallet is an electronic application that stores payment information and funds to make cashless transactions via mobile or computer. Common Pakistani examples include JazzCash and Easypaisa.

What is RAAST in Pakistan's payment system?

RAAST is Pakistan's instant, real-time digital payment system launched by the State Bank of Pakistan, enabling free, instant person-to-person and bulk fund transfers across banks and wallets.

What is the difference between Riba and profit in Islamic finance?

Riba (interest/usury) is prohibited in Islam; it is a fixed, predetermined return on a loan regardless of outcome. Profit is the lawful return earned by sharing genuine business risk (e.g., trade or partnership), which is permitted.

Define Mudarabah and Musharakah in Islamic finance.

Mudarabah is a partnership where one party provides capital and the other provides management/labour, sharing profit by agreed ratio (losses borne by the capital provider). Musharakah is a joint partnership where all partners contribute capital and share profit and loss according to their stakes.

What were the four 'Rightly Guided Caliphs' (Khulafa-e-Rashideen) in order?

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab, Hazrat Usman ibn Affan, and Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiyallahu anhum), who led the Muslim community after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.