Correct Answer :   30th June

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World Asteroid Day is observed every year on June 30 to raise awareness about the potential threat the asteroids can inflict upon impact with our planet.

The World Asteroid Day, also known as International Asteroid Day, is observed to inform the masses about the crisis communication actions warranted during a potential asteroid impact situation.

Asteroids are small celestial rocks revolving around the sun. These bodies are the leftovers from the solar system formation, and their size could be as small as 10 metres and as large as 510 km in diameter.


World Asteroid Day History :

* The United Nations General Assembly declared June 30 as International Asteroid Day by passing a resolution in December 2016. The date has its own significance as it is also the anniversary of the Tunguska asteroid’s impact over Siberia on June 30, 1908.

* The Association of Space Explorers submitted the proposal later approved by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).


World Asteroid Day 2023 Significance :

* The day is a reminder of the devastating impact of the Asteroid on Earth. The day highlights the 1908 Tunguska incident and the Chelyabinsk event of 2013, which are recorded in history.

* The day also aims to encourage discovery of more asteroids in our solar system, as only a small percentage has been discovered so far, and scientists believe that hundreds more are yet to be discovered. The day is ideal to think about protecting the earth from the hazardous effect of asteroids.

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Uttar Pradesh

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The Uttar Pradesh Government is going to launch a campaign titled ‘one-tap-one-tree’ from July 1, 2023, aimed at expanding the State’s green cover along with the provision of potable tap water in rural areas simultaneously.

The campaign is being launched jointly by the Namami Gange Programme and Rural Water Supply Department under the State government.

Under the campaign, the State government has set the target of planting five lakh saplings within a week of the launch of the initiative between July 1- July 7 2023, as part of the larger mission to have a green future for the State, and at the same time providing people safe drinking water to safeguard their health.

Principal Secretary, Namami Gange and the Rural Water Supply Department, Anurag Srivastava, chaired a meeting on Wednesday(28th June 2023) and directed officials to conduct a plantation drive on a massive scale between July 1 and 7.

“These saplings will be planted by officials and employees of the Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply departments outside the homes of households receiving tap connections, on overhead tanks, at pump houses as well as at water treatment plants,” reads a U.P. government press release.

Jal Samitis and other organisations have been entrusted with the task of carrying out plantation drives at the district, block and gram panchayat levels. Awareness programmes will also be conducted, educating the villagers on conserving the environment, and water.

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Gernot Dollner

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Audi’s CEO, Markus Duesmann, has been ousted from his position, and will be replaced by the Volkswagen Group’s head of product and strategy, "Gernot Döllner", effective September 1, 2023.

The move is the latest major change made by VW’s new CEO, Oliver Blume.

Duesmann “has brought great foresight and vision to planning and driving forward key strategic decisions, including, first and foremost, the electrification strategy,” said Manfred Döss, Chairman of Audi’s Supervisory Board. “At this point in time, Gernot Döllner is the right person to further strengthen the company’s product strategy and its position in key markets.”

Duesmann took over as CEO at Audi in 2019, and saw the company through the difficult COVID pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Reuters reports that top executives at the automaker were frustrated with Audi’s inability to keep up with its German counterparts, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, in the transition to electrification. Additionally, Audi’s sales performance in China has not met expectations, further adding to their concerns.

His replacement joined Volkswagen in 1993 as a Ph.D. candidate. Since then, Döllner has risen through the ranks, serving a number of roles at Porsche, where VW’s new CEO still serves as chief executive. In Stuttgart, Döllner led the Panamera department, and since 2021 has overseen product and strategy for the entire Volkswagen Group..

Source : Carscoops

Correct Answer :   Indigo Airline

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InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, which operates budget carrier Indigo, has become India's leading airline to cross ₹1 trillion in market capitalization (Mcap) on June 28, 2023.

The stock hit a 52-week high of ₹2,634.25 on the BSE earlier in the session 28th June 2023, with a market value of ₹1.01 trillion.

Shares of IndiGo settled 3.55 percent higher at ₹2,619.85 apiece on the BSE, compared to the previous close of ₹2,529.95.

The market share of India's largest airline rose 60 per cent, up 390 basis points in May. Its market share stood at 61.3% after rising 70 basis points in April, 90 basis points in March and 130 basis points in February. The low-cost carrier flew 81.10 lakh passengers in May 2023. One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.

IndiGo placed an order for 500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft in the largest order in the history of commercial aviation.

The deal is pegged at $50 billion at list prices and the airline will take delivery of these new aircraft between 2030 and 2035. However, the actual cost of acquisition is expected to be significantly lower as such big deals happen at a substantial discount to list prices.

The current order comprises a mix of A320 neo, A321 neo, and A321 xlr aircraft. "The engine selection for this order will be done in due course and so will be the exact mix of A320 and A321 aircraft," IndiGo said in a statement..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   India and Philippines

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India and the Philippines are embarking on an exciting journey of collaboration in the defence sector, with a particular focus on the maritime domain.

Through different initiatives including official-level interactions, resident Defense Attaché office in Manila, and the consideration of concessional Line of Credit, both nations are keen on deepening their defence ties.

India and the Philippines had the 5th meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in Delhi (June 29, 2023).

Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines (SFA), Enrique A. Manalo, and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, talked about expanding the bilateral ties and further strengthening partnership between the two countries in various fields.

The Foreign Secretary of the Phillipines had also called on the Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar during his visit..

Source : Financial Express

Correct Answer :   Ajay Bhatnagar

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Senior IPS officer Ajay Bhatnagar has been appointed as Special Director  in the CBI, while Anurag has been promoted to the position of Additional Director. Manoj Sashidhar has also been appointed as Additional Director, and Sharad Agarwal's deputation tenure as Joint Director has been extended.

Appointment of Ajay Bhatnagar

Ajay Bhatnagar, a senior IPS officer of the 1989 batch from the Jharkhand cadre, has been appointed as Special Director in the CBI. Currently serving as Additional Director in the agency, Bhatnagar's appointment is effective until his superannuation on November 20, 2024.

This appointment showcases his experience and competence in handling critical roles within the federal probe agency.

Ajay Bhatnagar, IPS appointed as Special Director, CBI.
IPS officers Manoj Sashidhar and Anurag appointed as Additional Directors, CBI. pic.twitter.com/G3dMSsclJr

— Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) June 28, 2023

Promotion of Anurag :

Anurag, who held the position of Joint Director in the CBI, has been promoted to the role of Additional Director. The Personnel Ministry order states that his appointment is for a period until July 24, 2023, which marks the completion of his seven-year tenure. This promotion recognizes Anurag's contributions and accomplishments within the agency.

Appointment of Manoj Sashidhar :

Manoj Sashidhar, a 1994 batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre, has been appointed as Additional Director in the CBI. Currently serving as Joint Director in the probe agency, Sashidhar's appointment is for a tenure of three years. This appointment acknowledges his expertise and skills in the field of investigation and law enforcement.

Extension of Sharad Agarwal's Tenure :

Sharad Agarwal, serving as Joint Director in the CBI, has received an extension in his deputation tenure. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved an extension of one year beyond May 31, 2023. Agarwal's tenure will now continue from June 1, 2023, until May 31, 2024, totalling eight years.

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Culture

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was  signed between Ministry of Culture and Canara Bank on 28.06.2023 for disbursal of financial assistance to veteran artists under the “Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists”.

* Ministry of Culture administers a Scheme namely “Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists” under which financial assistance of Rs. 6000/- per month is provided to artists and scholars above the age of 60 years who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of performing arts and culture in their active age or are still contributing, but due to old age they are facing difficulty and are in penury condition.

* Currently, under the scheme, disbursal of financial assistance in respect of artists selected before 2017 is made through LIC while for the artists approved post 2017, it is made directly by the Ministry. 

* It has been noted that the receipt of documents from the beneficiaries often get delayed resulting in disbursal of amount as lump sum instead of being released on a regular basis.

* With the signing of the MoU with Canara Bank, in a period of approximately two months post streamlining of the process, disbursal of financial assistance to the veteran artists would commence on monthly basis, also ensuring redressal of long pending grievances of beneficiaries.

* This initiative is reflective of the Culture Ministry’s commitment to constantly improve the interface with the artists’ community and the services provided to them. 

* Canara Bank, one of the leading PSU Banks, has expressed their sincere commitment for ensuring the smooth and continuous disbursal to the veteran artists given their experience of handling many schemes for the various Ministries of Government of India..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress (ICC) on 1st June 2023 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

* National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) is organizing the two days Indian Cooperative Congress.

Theme : The theme of Amrit Kaal: Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India.

* It will be chaired by the Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.

* According to the Ministry of Cooperation, the objective of the Indian Cooperative Congress is to discuss various trends in the cooperative movement, to showcase the best practices being adopted by the successful cooperatives and to deliberate on challenges being faced by the cooperative world.

* The Ministry said, an exhibition will also be held displaying various products of Self-Help Group’s and NCUI Cooperative Education Field Projects under the banner of NCUI HAAT. Approximately five crore members will be connected live during the event..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Pralhad Joshi

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* Union Minister of Mines Pralhad Joshi has unveiled India's first-ever report on Critical Minerals for India.

* The report identifies 30 critical minerals essential for sectors including defense, agriculture, and telecom.

* This list marks a milestone in India's pursuit of self-reliance and security in mineral resources, aligning with the vision of achieving 'Net Zero' targets.

Aim : To guide policy formulation, strategic planning, and investment decisions in this sector.

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   $1.5 billion

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The World Bank said on Friday (30th June 2023) it has approved $1.5 billion in financing to accelerate the development of India’s low carbon energy sector.

* The financing will help India promote low-carbon energy by scaling up renewable energy, developing green hydrogen and stimulating climate finance for low-carbon energy investments, the bank said in a statement.

* “The program will support the successful implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission that aims to stimulate $100 billion in private sector investment by 2030,” said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank Country Director for India.

Aim : The program aims to scale up renewable energy supply by reducing costs and improving power grid integration, while helping India reach its committed 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

* The government plans to issue bids for 50 GW of renewable energy each year from FY23-24 to FY27-28, which will avoid carbon emissions of 40 million tons per annum by 2026.

* That World Bank said that while India’s per capita energy consumption was only one-third of the global average, demand was expected to grow rapidly with the expansion of the economy.

* This calls for a phasing down of fossil-based energy sources in line with India’s goal of achieving net-zero by 2070, the statement added..

Source : Financial Express