Appointments and Resignations PYQs – Current Affairs, SSC & Railway

Answer: Option 3 — PR Sreejesh
After retiring from international hockey at the Paris Olympics 2024, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was named head coach of India's junior men's hockey team by Hockey India in August 2024.
Revision note — PR Sreejesh
• Goalkeeper from Kerala; played for India for about 18 years.
• Won Olympic bronze twice — Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
• Paris 2024 bronze was India's second consecutive Olympic hockey medal; Sreejesh retired after it.
• Hockey India retired his jersey number 16 for the senior men's team.
• Received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2021.
• Harmanpreet Singh captained India at Paris 2024; Craig Fulton was the senior men's head coach.
Also asked from this topic: the award PR Sreejesh received in 2025 for sports (Padma Bhushan).
Sreejesh became the coach, not the captain — Harmanpreet Singh is the senior team's captain.

Answer: Option 3 — Rajiv Ranjan Singh
In the third Modi ministry sworn in on 9 June 2024, Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) of JD(U) became Union Minister of Panchayati Raj.
He also holds Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Revision note — Portfolios in the Union Cabinet, June 2024
• J. P. Nadda: Health and Family Welfare; Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare; Rural Development.
• Piyush Goyal: Commerce and Industry.
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj was created in May 2004; the 73rd Amendment (1992) gave panchayats constitutional status.
• National Panchayati Raj Day: 24 April.
• Flagship MoPR scheme: SVAMITVA (property cards for rural houses using drones).
Do not mix these up
• Panchayati Raj vs Rural Development — two separate ministries; Rural Development went to Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Also asked from this topic: the ministry that runs the SVAMITVA scheme (Ministry of Panchayati Raj).

Answer: Option 3 — Shikhar Dhawan
In July 2024, former India opener Shikhar Dhawan was named the brand ambassador of MotoGP Bharat, the Indian round of the MotoGP world championship.
Revision note — MotoGP Bharat
• MotoGP is the top class of motorcycle road racing, run by Dorna under the FIM.
• India hosted its first MotoGP race (Indian Oil Grand Prix of India) in September 2023.
• Venue: Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) — also India's former Formula One venue (2011–2013).
• The 2023 race was won by Marco Bezzecchi (Italy).
• Promoter in India: FairStreet Sports.
• Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket in August 2024.
Also asked from this topic: the venue of MotoGP Bharat 2023 (Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida).

Answer: Option 4 — Sonia Gandhi became the Leader of Opposition in the 18^(th) Lok Sabha.
The Leader of Opposition in the 18^(th) Lok Sabha is Rahul Gandhi (Congress), recognised in June 2024.
Sonia Gandhi is a member of the Rajya Sabha (from Rajasthan, elected in 2024), not of the Lok Sabha.
Revision note — 18^(th) Lok Sabha (2024)
• Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term on 9 June 2024.
• Amit Shah kept Home Affairs and Cooperation (Ministry of Cooperation created in July 2021).
• Om Birla (MP from Kota, Rajasthan) was elected Speaker on 26 June 2024 by voice vote — his second term as Speaker.
• Rahul Gandhi (MP from Rae Bareli) became Leader of Opposition — the post had been vacant since 2014.
• A party needs at least 10% of the House (55 seats) for its leader to be recognised as LoP; the LoP holds Cabinet-minister rank.
Do not mix these up
• LoP Lok Sabha vs LoP Rajya Sabha — Lok Sabha: Rahul Gandhi; Rajya Sabha: Mallikarjun Kharge.
Also asked from this topic: seats needed for a recognised Leader of Opposition (10% of the House); the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha (Om Birla); Amit Shah's portfolios (Home Affairs and Cooperation).