#341

Which country is the newest member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as of 2024?

(a) Niue

(b) United Kingdom

(c) Ukraine

(d) Israel

Explanation: Ukraine joined the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2024. While not in Asia, non-regional members can join if they are members of the UN or its specialized agencies.

#342

The 'Shanghai Cooperation Organization' (SCO) added which country as a new member in July 2024?

(a) Iran

(b) Belarus

(c) Saudi Arabia

(d) Turkey

Explanation: Belarus officially became the 10th member of the SCO at the Astana summit in July 2024. (Iran joined in 2023).

#343

Which major space treaty was signed by over 40 nations in 2024 to regulate space exploration?

(a) The Moon Agreement

(b) The Zero Debris Charter

(c) The Artemis Accords

(d) The Mars Covenant

Explanation: The 'Zero Debris Charter', facilitated by the European Space Agency, was signed by over 12 countries in 2024 (and more organizations) to commit to a debris-free space environment. (Note: Artemis Accords is older, though growing).

#344

Who is the current Secretary-General of NATO (as of late 2024)?

(a) Jens Stoltenberg

(b) Mark Rutte

(c) Ursula von der Leyen

(d) Boris Johnson

Explanation: Mark Rutte, the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, succeeded Jens Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary-General on October 1, 2024.

#345

Which country served as the Chair of the ASEAN for 2024?

(a) Indonesia

(b) Laos

(c) Malaysia

(d) Vietnam

Explanation: Laos held the Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the year 2024.

#346

In 2024, the UN General Assembly declared 2025 as the International Year of:

(a) Glaciers' Preservation

(b) Quantum Science and Technology

(c) Camelids

(d) Peace and Trust

Explanation: The UNGA declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. (Note: 2025 is also the Year of Cooperatives and Quantum Science in various resolutions, but Glaciers was a major environmental focus).

#347

Which country withdrew from the 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI) in 2023/2024?

(a) Pakistan

(b) Italy

(c) Hungary

(d) Iran

Explanation: Italy officially withdrew from China's Belt and Road Initiative in December 2023 (effective 2024), becoming the first G7 nation to leave the pact.

#348

In 2024, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines held their first-ever trilateral summit to address security challenges in which region?

(a) The Baltic Sea

(b) The South China Sea

(c) The Persian Gulf

(d) The Arctic Ocean

Explanation: The historic trilateral summit held in Washington D.C. in April 2024 focused on countering China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea and strengthening maritime cooperation among the three nations.

#349

Which country officially joined NATO in March 2024, becoming the alliance's 32nd member?

(a) Finland

(b) Sweden

(c) Ukraine

(d) Austria

Explanation: Sweden officially joined NATO on March 7, 2024, ending centuries of neutrality and strengthening the alliance's northern flank in response to Russian aggression.

#350

The 'No Limits' partnership, reaffirmed in 2024, refers to the strategic relationship between which two major powers?

(a) USA and UK

(b) China and Russia

(c) India and France

(d) Germany and Poland

Explanation: China and Russia have described their strategic partnership as having 'no limits,' deepening economic, military, and diplomatic ties to counter Western influence.

#351

Which major trade policy measure did the European Union impose on China in October 2024?

(a) A ban on all Chinese textiles

(b) Increased tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles (EVs)

(c) Sanctions on Chinese agricultural products

(d) A blockade of Chinese shipping

Explanation: Following an anti-subsidy investigation, the EU imposed significant additional tariffs (up to 35.3%) on Chinese electric vehicles, citing unfair state subsidies that distorted the European market.

#352

The 'iCET' initiative, which saw expanded cooperation in 2024-2025, is a technology partnership between:

(a) USA and China

(b) USA and India

(c) EU and Japan

(d) Russia and Brazil

Explanation: The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is a flagship framework between the USA and India to foster cooperation in space, semiconductors, defense, and telecommunications.

#353

Which group of nations officially expanded its membership in January 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE?

(a) G7

(b) NATO

(c) BRICS

(d) ASEAN

Explanation: BRICS expanded significantly in 2024, adding new members from the Middle East and Africa to challenge the Western-dominated global order.

#354

Which country signed a landmark deal with the US in 2024 to purchase 31 MQ-9B Predator drones?

(a) Ukraine

(b) India

(c) Taiwan

(d) South Korea

Explanation: India signed a deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance drones from the US to boost its surveillance and strike capabilities along its borders and in the Indian Ocean.

#355

Which European country became the first G7 nation to officially withdraw from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2024?

(a) Germany

(b) France

(c) Italy

(d) Canada

Explanation: Italy officially withdrew from the Belt and Road Initiative in early 2024, citing that the economic benefits had not met expectations and seeking to realign with Western allies.

#356

Which resource did China place export controls on in 2023-2024, affecting the global semiconductor supply chain?

(a) Copper and Iron

(b) Gallium and Germanium

(c) Gold and Silver

(d) Lithium and Cobalt

Explanation: China imposed export controls on gallium and germanium, critical metals used in semiconductor manufacturing, in retaliation against US-led tech restrictions.

#357

Which US Act, passed in 2024, included provisions effectively demanding the divestiture of TikTok by its Chinese parent company?

(a) The CHIPS Act

(b) The Inflation Reduction Act

(c) The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act

(d) The Digital Markets Act

Explanation: This legislation required ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations or face a nationwide ban, escalating US-China tech tensions.

#358

The 2024 G7 Summit, which focused heavily on supporting Ukraine and addressing Chinese overcapacity, was held in:

(a) Japan

(b) Germany

(c) Italy

(d) Canada

Explanation: Italy hosted the G7 summit in Apulia (Puglia) in June 2024.

#359

Which nation is China's largest trading partner in the 'Global South' as of 2024?

(a) Brazil

(b) India

(c) Russia

(d) South Africa

Explanation: Brazil is a massive trading partner for China, particularly in agricultural exports like soy and beef, and iron ore.

#360

In 2024, the US deployed a mid-range missile system (Typhon) to which Asian country for joint exercises, drawing strong condemnation from China?

(a) Vietnam

(b) South Korea

(c) Philippines

(d) Thailand

Explanation: The US deployed the Typhon missile system to the Philippines for military exercises in 2024, marking a significant strengthening of the US posture in the First Island Chain.

April 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions