Current Affairs — Study Notes for HSSC CET
Overview
Current Affairs forms a significant portion of the General Awareness section in HSSC CET. This topic tests your awareness of recent national and international events, government policies, summits, sports achievements, awards, and appointments. Unlike static GK, current affairs content changes continuously, requiring regular newspaper reading and monthly revision.
For HSSC CET, focus on events from the past 12–18 months. Questions typically cover government schemes, bilateral agreements, important appointments, sports tournaments, award recipients, and Haryana-specific developments.
The key to scoring well is systematic daily reading (15–20 minutes) combined with weekly revision. Focus on who, what, when, and where rather than lengthy details. Most questions are factual and direct — testing recall rather than analysis.
Key Concepts
- Government Schemes: Focus on flagship schemes like PM Gati Shakti, Ayushman Bharat, PM-KISAN, Jal Jeevan Mission, and new launches. Know the ministry responsible, launch date, and key objectives.
- International Summits: G20, G7, BRICS, SCO, ASEAN, COP (Climate), and bilateral summits. Note the host country, year, theme, and major outcomes or declarations.
- Appointments: Track new governors, chief justices, CAG, Election Commissioners, RBI Governor, service chiefs, and heads of international bodies (UN, WHO, IMF, World Bank).
- Sports Events: Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Cricket World Cups, and Indian achievements. Know medal counts, venues, and record-breaking performances.
- Awards and Honours: Bharat Ratna, Padma Awards, Nobel Prize, Booker Prize, Ramon Magsaysay, national sports awards (Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya).
- Defence and Space: ISRO missions (Chandrayaan, Aditya L1, Gaganyaan updates), DRDO developments, new defence acquisitions, and military exercises.
- Economic Developments: GDP growth rates, Union Budget highlights, RBI policy changes, GST Council decisions, and major economic indicators.
- Haryana-Specific: State budget, new schemes, industrial developments, sports achievements by Haryanvi players, and administrative changes.
Key Facts to Remember
National Events (2023–2024)
| Event | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| G20 Summit 2023 | New Delhi, September 2023; Theme: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"; African Union made permanent member |
| Chandrayaan-3 | Soft landing on Moon's south pole, 23 August 2023; Vikram lander and Pragyan rover |
| Aditya-L1 | India's first solar mission, launched September 2023; reached L1 point January 2024 |
| Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha | Ayodhya, 22 January 2024 |
| Article 370 Verdict | Supreme Court upheld abrogation, December 2023 |
| Women's Reservation Act | 33 percent reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies; passed September 2023 |
International Events
| Event | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| BRICS Expansion 2023 | 6 new members invited: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, UAE |
| COP28 | Dubai, UAE; December 2023; focus on fossil fuel phase-down |
| ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 | India hosted; Australia won (6th title); India runners-up |
| Asian Games 2023 | Hangzhou, China; India won 107 medals (28 gold) — best-ever performance |
Recent Appointments
| Position | Person |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of India | Justice D Y Chandrachud (November 2022 – November 2024) |
| RBI Governor | Shaktikanta Das (term extended) |
| 25th CAG of India | Girish Chandra Murmu |
| Chief Election Commissioner | Rajiv Kumar |
Awards (2023–2024)
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna 2024 | Karpoori Thakur (posthumous), L K Advani, P V Narasimha Rao (posthumous), Chaudhary Charan Singh (posthumous), M S Swaminathan (posthumous) |
| Nobel Peace Prize 2023 | Narges Mohammadi (Iran) |
| Nobel Economics 2023 | Claudia Goldin |
| Miss World 2024 | Krystyna Pyszkova (Czech Republic) |
Haryana Current Affairs
- Haryana Day: 1 November (formed in 1966)
- State Sports Awards: Bhim Award, Vikram Award
- Industrial Hubs: Gurugram, Manesar, Faridabad, Panipat
- Recent Haryanvi Olympic medallists: Neeraj Chopra (javelin gold Tokyo 2020), Manu Bhaker (shooting bronze Paris 2024), Vinesh Phogat (wrestling)
Worked Examples
Example 1: G20 Summit 2023 was held in which city?
- Answer: New Delhi
- Approach: G20 summits rotate among member countries. India held G20 presidency from December 2022 to November 2023. Summit venue was Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Example 2: Which Indian space mission successfully landed on the Moon's south pole in 2023?
- Answer: Chandrayaan-3
- Approach: India became the 4th country to land on Moon (after USA, Russia, China) and first to land near the south pole. Lander named Vikram, rover named Pragyan.
Example 3: How many gold medals did India win at Asian Games 2023?
- Answer: 28 gold medals (total 107 medals: 28 gold, 38 silver, 41 bronze)
- Approach: Hangzhou Asian Games was India's best-ever performance. Key gold medallists include Indian men's cricket team, shooting contingent, and athletics team.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing summit venues across years: G20 2022 was Bali (Indonesia), G20 2023 was New Delhi, G20 2024 is Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Make year-wise notes.
- Mixing up award categories: Khel Ratna is for outstanding sportspersons, Arjuna Award for consistent performance, Dronacharya for coaches, Dhyan Chand for lifetime achievement. Know the distinctions.
- Ignoring Haryana-specific current affairs: Since this is HSSC CET, state-level developments are important. Track Haryanvi sportspersons, state schemes, and administrative changes separately.
- Remembering only winners, not host countries: Questions often ask where an event was held, not just who won. Always note venue/host alongside results.
- Outdated information from previous years: Current affairs for a 2024 exam focuses on 2023–2024 events. Don't waste time memorising 2021–2022 details unless they are landmark events.
Quick Reference
- G20 2023: New Delhi; African Union became permanent member
- Chandrayaan-3: 23 August 2023; south pole landing; Vikram lander, Pragyan rover
- Asian Games 2023: Hangzhou, China; India — 107 medals (best ever)
- Bharat Ratna 2024: 5 recipients including Karpoori Thakur and L K Advani
- COP28: Dubai, December 2023
- Haryana Formation: 1 November 1966; state carved from Punjab