Part IV — Current Affairs & Static GK

Chapter 5: Current Affairs and Quick-Revision Static GK Capsules

5.1 Approach to Current Affairs Preparation

Current Affairs questions in IB ACIO Tier 1 typically draw from the preceding 6–12 months, covering national and international news, appointments, awards, sporting events, government schemes, and defence/security developments (given the exam's intelligence-services context, security and defence current affairs carry particular relevance). Candidates should maintain a habit of reading a reliable daily newspaper or current affairs digest and note down appointments, summits, and scheme launches with dates.

5.2 Static GK Capsules — National Symbols and Facts

National Anthem: "Jana Gana Mana," composed by Rabindranath Tagore. National Song: "Vande Mataram," composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. National Emblem: the Lion Capital of Ashoka (from Sarnath). National Animal: Royal Bengal Tiger. National Bird: Peacock. National Flower: Lotus. National Fruit: Mango.

5.3 Static GK Capsules — Important Organisations

United Nations (UN) headquarters: New York. International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank headquarters: Washington, D.C. World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters: Geneva. SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) headquarters: Kathmandu. ASEAN headquarters: Jakarta.

5.4 Static GK Capsules — Defence and Security (IB-Relevant)

The Intelligence Bureau (IB), India's internal intelligence agency, functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and is considered the world's oldest intelligence agency (tracing its origins to 1887, under British colonial administration, though its modern form dates to independence). The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is India's external intelligence agency, established in 1968. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is India's federal counter-terrorism law enforcement agency, established in 2009 following the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

5.5 Practice Set — Current Affairs & Static GK (14 MCQs)

1. India's National Anthem, "Jana Gana Mana," was composed by:
   (a) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (b) Rabindranath Tagore (c) Sarojini Naidu (d) Iqbal
2. India's National Song, "Vande Mataram," was composed by:
   (a) Rabindranath Tagore (b) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (c) Subramania Bharati (d) Muhammad Iqbal
3. India's National Emblem is derived from:
   (a) The Ashokan Lion Capital at Sarnath (b) The Red Fort (c) The Taj Mahal (d) The Indian tricolour
4. India's National Animal is the:
   (a) Elephant (b) Royal Bengal Tiger (c) Lion (d) Peacock
5. India's National Bird is the:
   (a) Peacock (b) Sparrow (c) Crane (d) Eagle
6. The United Nations (UN) headquarters is located in:
   (a) Geneva (b) New York (c) Washington, D.C. (d) Paris
7. The World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters is located in:
   (a) New York (b) Geneva (c) Washington, D.C. (d) Vienna
8. The IMF and World Bank headquarters are both located in:
   (a) New York (b) Geneva (c) Washington, D.C. (d) London
9. The Intelligence Bureau (IB), India's internal intelligence agency, functions under which ministry?
   (a) Ministry of Defence (b) Ministry of Home Affairs (c) Ministry of External Affairs (d) Ministry of Finance
10. The Intelligence Bureau is often described as:
    (a) The world's newest intelligence agency (b) The world's oldest intelligence agency (c) An agency with no historical continuity (d) A purely military agency
11. India's external intelligence agency, established in 1968, is the:
    (a) Intelligence Bureau (IB) (b) Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) (c) National Investigation Agency (NIA) (d) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
12. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established following which event?
    (a) The 1993 Mumbai bombings (b) The 2001 Parliament attack (c) The 2008 Mumbai attacks (d) The 1999 Kargil War
13. SAARC's headquarters is located in:
    (a) New Delhi (b) Kathmandu (c) Islamabad (d) Dhaka
14. Current Affairs questions in IB ACIO Tier 1 typically draw from approximately what preceding period?
    (a) The preceding 1 month only (b) The preceding 6–12 months (c) The preceding 5 years (d) Only events from the current day

Answer Key

1.(b)

2.(b)

3.(a)

4.(b)

5.(a)

6.(b)

7.(b)

8.(c)

9.(b)

10.(b)

11.(b)

12.(c)

13.(b) 14.(b)