TLDR;
Alright, students! This is a marathon session covering important current affairs and static GK for railway exams. The session includes a mix of MCQs and theoretical explanations for better understanding. Key topics include Bharat Ratna, geographical nicknames of Indian cities, international appointments, sports terminology, and important days.
- Bharat Ratna details with first recipients
- Geographical nicknames of Indian cities
- Sports terminology and associated cups/trophies
- Important days and their themes
Introduction [0:24]
The session is a Saturday special, happening on 16th of May. The educator welcomes students and confirms audio and video clarity. She mentions that the session will have a mix of theoretical discussions and question-answer rounds, aiming for in-depth coverage of fewer questions. She also reminds students to download the Testbook app and join the Telegram group for PDFs.
Testbook Superpass Live and First Question [2:25]
The educator introduces Testbook's Superpass Live, a subscription offering access to 375+ government exams with live and recorded batches, study notes, mock tests, PYQs, and practice questions. It's available for ₹299 per month, but a discount code "RIYA" can be used. The first question is about the first Indian woman to receive the Bharat Ratna.
Bharat Ratna Details [2:55]
The discussion covers Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, started in 1954. It's not compulsory to give it every year; the last one was in 2024. Indira Gandhi was the first female recipient in 1971. Other firsts include:
- First PM: Jawaharlal Nehru (1955)
- First CM: Govind Ballabh Pant (UP, 1957)
- First President: Rajendra Prasad (1962)
- First Singer: MS Subbulakshmi (1998) Lata Mangeshkar received it in 2001. Lal Bahadur Shastri was the first to receive it posthumously. In 2024, five people received the Bharat Ratna: Karpoori Thakur, Lal Krishna Advani, PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and MS Swaminathan. A total of 53 people have received Bharat Ratna so far.
Geographical Nicknames of Indian Cities [6:28]
The session moves to the next question: Which country is known as the "Coffee Bowl of the World?" The answer is Brazil. Then, there's a discussion on geographical nicknames of Indian cities:
- Blue City/Sun City: Jodhpur
- Manchester of India/Boston of India: Ahmedabad
- City of Seven Islands/Gateway of India/Financial Capital of India/Capital of Cotton Textile: Mumbai
- Electronics City of India/Silicon Valley of India/Science City of India: Bangalore
- City of Love/City of Taj: Agra
- City of Palaces/Cultural Capital of India/City of Joy: Kolkata
- Orange City/Tiger Capital of India: Nagpur
- Tiger State: Madhya Pradesh (with 785 tigers as per the 2022 census)
International Appointments and Film Based on Historical Events [10:59]
The next question is about Mohammad Irfan Ali, who was re-elected as the President of Guyana. Guyana is a small country in South America with its capital in Georgetown and currency as Dollar. The next question is about the movie '120 Bahadurs', which is based on the Battle of Rezang La in 1962 during the India-China War.
Pope Francis Funeral and Sports Personalities [13:53]
President Droupadi Murmu attended Pope Francis's funeral in Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, located in Europe. The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Christians. The capital of Vatican City is Vatican City, and the currency is Euro. The next question is about Geeta Phogat, who is associated with wrestling. Other wrestlers mentioned are Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Deepak Punia. Boxers include Amit Panghal and Mary Kom. Lawn tennis players include Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza. Hockey players include Manpreet Singh and Rani Rampal.
National Stock Exchange and Union Budget [17:05]
The session discusses the appointment of Shrinivas Injeti as the Chairperson of the Governing Board of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Then, it covers the Union Budget, noting that the highest expenditure is on the state share of taxes, and the highest income is from borrowings and liabilities (24%).
Sports Terminology: Football, Badminton, Tennis, and Table Tennis [19:08]
The term "Offside Trap" is used in football. Other football terms include foul, tackle, referee, dribble, passing, shooting, and header. Badminton terms include service court, smash, double fault, and love. Tennis terms include Grand Slam and deuce. Table tennis terms include backhand and Tomhawk service.
Autobiographies and International Biosphere Reserve Day [24:16]
"Straight from the Heart" is an autobiography by Kapil Dev, also known as the Haryana Hurricane. Other books by Kapil Dev include "Cricket My Style," "We the Sikhs," and "By God's Decree." Other autobiographies mentioned are VVS Laxman's "281 and Beyond," Yuvraj Singh's "Test of My Life," and Sachin Tendulkar's "Playing It My Way." International Biosphere Reserve Day is celebrated on November 3rd and was initiated by UNESCO in 2021.
CK Nayudu Trophy and Sports Cups/Trophies [27:18]
CK Nayudu Trophy is associated with cricket. Other cricket trophies include Ashes Cup, Cooch Behar Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Gavaskar Border Trophy, Gillette Cup, Irani Trophy, Ranji Trophy, and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Football trophies include Rovers Cup, Mardeka Cup, FIFA World Cup, Kalinga Cup, Santosh Trophy, Subroto Cup, and Vithal Trophy. Badminton tournaments include Amrit Diwan Cup, Chadda Cup, Konika Cup, Sofia Cup, Thomas Cup (men's), and Uber Cup (women's). Hockey tournaments include Aga Khan Cup, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Gold Cup, Dhyan Chand Trophy, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Stanley Cup, and Scindia Gold Cup.
Operation Sagar Bandhu and GST 2.0 [32:58]
Operation Sagar Bandhu is India's humanitarian relief operation to assist Sri Lanka after Cyclone Datwah. Under GST 2.0, 33 life-saving drugs are exempted from GST. GST was implemented on July 1, 2017, via the 101st Constitutional Amendment. GST 2.0 was introduced in the 56th GST Council Meeting, featuring slabs of 5%, 18%, and 40% (for sin and luxury goods).
First Woman Olympic Medalist and Legal Recognition of Femicide [35:32]
Karnam Malleswari was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal (bronze in Sydney 2000). Italy has passed a law legally recognizing femicide and punishing it with life imprisonment.
Walker Cup and Classical Languages of India [36:59]
Walker Cup is related to golf. India's first classical language is Tamil (2004). Other classical languages include Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). In 2024, five new classical languages were added: Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali, and Marathi, bringing the total to 11. Hindi is not a classical language because it originated from Sanskrit.
Republic Day Parade and Finance Commission Chairman [40:57]
The Republic Day parade in 2026 featured 30 tableaux, with 17 from states and union territories and 13 from ministries. The chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, who presented the report for the period 2026-2031, is Arvind Panagariya.
PM Kisan Yojana and Republic Day Chief Guests [42:12]
On March 13, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 22nd installment of the PM Kisan Yojana from Guwahati. The scheme, launched in February 2019, provides ₹6000 annually to farmers in three installments. The chief guests for the Republic Day parade 2026 were Antonio Costa and Ursula vonder Lane, top officials from the European Union. The theme for the Republic Day was "150 Years of Vande Mataram."
National Child Safety Policy and ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting [44:11]
In October 2025, Fiji launched its first national child safety policy to ensure the protection of children in all areas. The 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in New Delhi in January 2026.
ASEAN Diplomats Visit to Bhopal and Indian Army Battalion Establishment [47:04]
The primary objective of the ASEAN diplomats' three-day visit to Bhopal was to strengthen economic, industrial investment, and cultural relations. The 16th Bhairav Battalion of the Indian Army was established in Belgaum, Karnataka, on April 25, 2026.
RBI Authorization and NBFC Self-Regulatory Organization [48:45]
In January 2026, Skydo received final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator cross-border unit. The Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) has been recognized by the RBI as a self-regulatory organization for the NBFC sector.
Indian Space Station Project and Kondh Tribe Ritual [49:59]
ISRO announced the construction of the Indian Space Station project in 2025, with the first module scheduled for testing being the Orbital Housing Module. The Kondh tribe in Jharkhand is known for the Meria ritual, which is dedicated to the Earth goddess (Dharani Penu) and involves a complex sacrifice emphasizing the cycle of life, death, and agricultural rebirth.
Joint Program Inauguration and First Female Cardiologist [51:51]
In November 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, jointly inaugurated the Kalachakra Empowerment Ceremony in Thimphu. Dr. SI Padmavati, India's first female cardiologist, passed away in August 2020 at the age of 103.
Henley Passport Index and AR Rahman's Oscars [53:02]
In the February 2026 Henley Passport Index, India's rank was 75. Singapore topped the list, with Japan and South Korea in second place. AR Rahman won two Oscars in 2009 for his work in "Slumdog Millionaire," including one for "Jai Ho."
World Tsunami Awareness Day and Athletics Terminology [54:23]
The theme for World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025, observed on November 5th, is "Be Tsunami Ready: Invest in Tsunami Preparedness." A popular term used in athletics is "photo finish," which refers to the end of a race when the winner is determined by a photograph.
Maritime Heritage Cooperation and Kannada Novel Award [55:53]
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between India and the Netherlands on maritime heritage cooperation primarily supports the National Maritime Heritage Complex in India. The novel "Swatantra Ota" earned a Kannada writer the Sahitya Akademi Award.
Chief Information Commissioner and Galantry Awards [58:31]
Rajkumar Goyal took the oath as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India in December 2025. The Right to Information (RTI) Act was established in 2005. The Indian President approved 70 galantry awards for 2026, including one Ashok Chakra, three Kirti Chakras, and 13 Shaurya Chakras.
Special Intensive Revision and Common Wealth of Cricket [59:15]
Rajasthan became the first Indian state to achieve 100% digitization of voter lists under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The author of the book "The Commonwealth of Cricket" is Ramachandra Guha.
James D. Watson's Nobel Prize and IISF Junior World Cup [1:00:32]
James D. Watson, who passed away in November 2025, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for the discovery of the DNA double helix structure. India topped the medal tally at the IISF Junior World Cup 2025 held in New Delhi.
T20 International Win and Nobel Prize Winner [1:02:10]
In February 2026, Italy's team defeated Nepal by 10 wickets to secure their first T20 International win. Rabindranath Tagore was the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Ramon Magsaysay Award and Poverty Eradication Day [1:04:15]
The Ramon Magsaysay Award, often called "Asia's Nobel Prize," is presented by the government of the Philippines. It was established in 1957 and first awarded in 1958. The theme for the 2025 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed on October 17th, is "Ending social and institutional discrimination by ensuring respect and effective support for families."
Blue Flag Certification and Aga Khan Cup [1:05:48]
In October 2025, five beaches in Maharashtra received the international Blue Flag certification: Shrivardhan, Nagaon, Purnagad, Guhagar, and Ladghar. The Aga Khan Cup is associated with hockey.
ICC Women's World Cup and Mini Switzerland of India [1:07:05]
In the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 final, Shafali Verma scored the most runs for India, with 87 runs off 78 balls. Khajjiar, located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, is known as the "Mini Switzerland of India."
Global Peace Index and Pokhran Nuclear Test [1:08:19]
India's rank in the Global Peace Index 2025 was 115 out of 163 countries. The code name for the Pokhran-II nuclear test was Operation Shakti.
NABARD Establishment and Cancer Drugs to Afghanistan [1:08:32]
NABARD was established based on the recommendations of the Shiv Raman Committee on July 12, 1982. The act was passed in 1981, and the headquarters is in Mumbai. KV Shaji is the current head. In January 2026, India sent 7.5 tons of life-saving cancer drugs to Afghanistan as part of ongoing healthcare cooperation.
Land of Cakes and Drap Program [1:09:51]
Scotland is known as "The Land of Cakes." The main objective of the Dump Site Remediation Accelerator Program (DRAP), launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is to fast-track the treatment of dump sites and reclaim urban land.
Khajuraho Temples and International Space Conference [1:10:53]
The Khajuraho temples are famous for the Nagara style of architecture with erotic sculptures. The theme of the International Conference on Space 2025, inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, is "Harnessing Space for Global Progress: Innovation, Policy, and Growth."
Raas Leela and Ayush Insurance Initiative [1:11:57]
To depict the stories of Krishna and Radha in the Raas Leela style, the classical dance form of Manipuri is performed. The All India Institute of Ayurveda has launched a new initiative called PMU (Project Management Unit) to handle matters related to Ayush insurance.
International Literacy Day and Vice President's Secretary [1:13:10]
The theme for International Literacy Day 2025, celebrated on September 8th by the Ministry of Education, is "Promoting literacy in the digital era." Amit Khare was appointed as the Secretary to the Vice President of India in September 2025.
Capital of Qatar and National Civil Service Day [1:14:19]
The capital of Qatar is Doha, and the currency is Rial. The session ends with a homework question about National Civil Service Day 2026.
Bronze Statue and Space Center [1:14:19]
The session ends with a homework question about National Civil Service Day 2026. The height of the bronze statue of Lord Ram, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Goa in November 2025, is 77 feet. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Monetary Reform and National Civil Service Day [1:15:49]
Iran's parliament approved a major monetary reform related to its national currency. The session ends with a homework question about National Civil Service Day 2026.
AI Impact Summit and Nobel Prize in Literature [1:16:56]
The theme for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is "Sarvajan Hitay Sarvajan Sukhay." Winston Churchill won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953.
Padma Awards and APJ Abdul Kalam's Books [1:18:10]
The President of India approved 113 Padma Shri awards for 2026. "Development as Freedom" is not written by APJ Abdul Kalam; it is written by Amartya Sen.
Braille Library and Yatri Seva Diwas [1:19:59]
Uttar Pradesh is the Indian state that started its first Braille Library, especially for visually impaired people. Yatri Seva Diwas 2025 was launched at Hindon Airport, and the "Yatri Pratham - Airport Seva Abhiyan" was started by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Padma Bhushan Recipient and Capital of Bhutan [1:21:31]
Jaishankar Prasad is not a Padma Bhushan recipient. The capital of Bhutan is Thimphu.
Nalsa Executive Chairman and World Radiography Day [1:23:19]
Justice Vikram Nath was named as the next Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in November 2025. The session ends with a homework question about World Radiography Day.
Superpass Live and Conclusion [1:24:51]
The educator promotes Testbook Superpass Live, available for ₹299 per month (discount code "RIYA"). The session concludes with reminders about daily live classes and Telegram group for PDFs.
