General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   Salman Rushdie

---

* British-American author, Salman Rushdie has been selected for the prestigious German Peace Prize 2023 for his literary work and his resolve and positive attitude in the face of constant danger.

* He would receive the award in Frankfurt on October 22, 2023.

* Cash prize: €25,000 ($27,300)

* This prize was established in 1950 to recognize a personality committed to serving international understanding between nations and cultures through their work..

Source : DW

Correct Answer :   Gandhi Peace Prize

---

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur. The Jury headed by the Prime Minister took the unanimous decision 18th June 2023.

* The award will be given to Gita Press in recognition of its outstanding contribution to social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

* Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of world’s largest publishers, having published over 41 crore books in 14 languages, including over 16 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita.

* The award given by Ministry of Culture, Gandhi Peace Prize carries an amount of one crore rupees, a citation and a plaque.

* Prime Minister Modi congratulated Gita Press, Gorakhpur. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, Gita Press have done commendable work over the last 100 years towards furthering social and cultural transformations among the people..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

---

India's dynamic duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty scripted history by winning the men's doubles title at the Indonesia Open here on Sunday (18th June 2023), becoming the first pair from the country to claim a Super 1000 event.

The Indians outwitted the Malaysian world champion duo of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-18 in an intense contest that lasted 43 minutes.

Satwiksairaj and Chirag gained initiative midway through the first game and they never really gave a sniff to their fancied opponents since then.

In the second game as well, the Indian pair did not allow their opponents to break free and a four-point streak kept them ahead of the curve.

The Indians seemed to be in for a facile victory when the Malaysians nullified four match points to come within sniffing distance of their opponents.

Doubles outing :

However, Satwiksairaj and Chirag, the world No. 6 pair, who won a gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and bronze at the world championships last year, could not be denied when the score read 20-18 in their favour, and this time they converted the match point to script a magnificent win.

The magnitude of the result can be gauged from the fact that this was the first time Satwiksairaj and Chirag are beating Aaron and Soh in 11 attempts.

In fact, the triumph of Satwiksairaj and Chirag in the Indonesia Open is quite unparalleled as they are the first doubles Indian doubles pair to land the title while Saina Nehwal (2010, 2012) and Kidambi Srikanth (2017) had earlier bagged the singles crown in Jakarta...

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   INS Vagir

---

Indian Navy's state-of-the-art submarine, INS 'Vagir', is all set to embark on an operational visit to Colombo from June 19 to June 22, 2023.

This visit is in commemoration of the 9th edition of the International Day of Yoga and aligns with the theme of 'Global Ocean Ring'.

During the visit, the Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval submarine, is scheduled to meet Rear Admiral Suresh De Silva, the Commander of the Western Naval Area, during this visit.

In addition, INS 'Vagir' will also open its doors to visitors and school children, allowing them a rare opportunity to explore the submarine firsthand.

In conjunction with this visit, the Indian High Commission, in collaboration with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, has planned a grand event on the occasion of International Day of Yoga at Colombo Port on June 21.

Senior defence officials and personnel from both the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies will participate in this celebration.

This visit follows the previous visits of Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Sukanya, Kiltan, and Savitri to Colombo and Trincomalee, during which Yoga sessions were organised alongside the Sri Lanka Navy.

Recently, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces actively took part in a three-day Yoga workshop across five cities in Sri Lanka, organized by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre.

The International Day of Yoga 2023, themed 'Global Ocean Ring', aims to connect individuals worldwide in their shared pursuit of well-being, resonating with India's ongoing G20 presidency and the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which emphasizes a united and harmonious future for all..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   12.73%

---

Gross Direct Tax collections for Financial Year 2023-24 till now have registered a growth of 12.73%. The figure stands at 4,19,338 crore rupees as compared to 3,71,982 crores in the corresponding period of the preceding financial year.

* Net collections are at 3,79,760 crores, showing a growth of 11.18%.
 
* Gross collections include Corporation Tax at 1,87,311 crore, and Personal Income Tax at 2,31,391 crore. Advance Tax collections for the first quarter of 2023-24 stand at 1,16,776 crores, showing a growth of 13.70%. Refunds amounting to 39,578 crores have also been issued in 2023-24 till now..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Lebanon

---

Indian men's senior football team clinched the Intercontinental Cup 2023 with a 2-0 victory over Lebanon in the final at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar 18th June 2023.

* The first half was goalless while in the second half, the hosts made it 1-0 in the 46th-minute with Indian captain Sunil Chhetri's goal.

* Lallianzuala Chhangte netted the second goal in the 65th -minute, making it 2-0.  This is India's second title in the tournament, following their win in the inaugural edition in 2018. Korea won in 2019.

* India extended their streak of being unbeaten in the competition as they drew their previous meeting against Lebanon and defeated both Vanuatu and Mongolia.

* This is Chhetri's 87th international goals in 137 appearances. Chhetri is continued to be the third highest goal-scorer among active players in international football, only behind Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of Argentina..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Arundhati Roy

---

Writer and activist, Arundhati Roy has been awarded the 45th European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement on the occasion of the French translation of her latest essay, 'Azadi'.

* The French translation 'Liberte, fascisme, fiction' appeared in the leading French publishing group, Gallimard.

* The chant of 'Azadi!' (Urdu for Freedom!) is the slogan of the freedom struggle. "It also became the chant of millions on the streets of India against the project of Hindu nationalism."

* The award ceremony will take place on September 12 at the Lausanne Palace.

* At the award ceremony, Arundhati Roy will discuss the environment and globalization, caste and language..

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   $150 Million

---

The board of directors of the World Bank approved a $150 million loan to support Resilient Kerala programme to continue strengthening the state’s preparedness against natural disasters, climate change impacts, and disease outbreaks.

* This additional financing will further deepen the state’s resilience in critical areas of coastal erosion and water resource management.

* According to a statement released by the World Bank on Saturday (17th June 2023), this loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a final maturity of 14 years, including a grace period of six years.

* This financing complements the bank’s earlier investment of $125 million. The overall support of the two projects is expected to protect nearly 5 million people from the impacts of floods.

* “Through this additional financing, the World Bank will continue supporting Kerala in increasing its resilience to climate change,” said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank’s country director for India. The project will focus on addressing coastal erosion along vulnerable areas of the state, impacting millions of lives.

* The additional financing will expand and deepen the state’s resilience to mitigate impacts of coastal erosion by building a shoreline management plan. The plan will assess the current and future shoreline changes in the state and create policies to address the risks to environmental resources, human settlements and infrastructure along the coast...

Source : TOI

Correct Answer :   Axis Bank

---

Axis Bank on Friday (16th June 2023) said it has appointed former Reserve Bank deputy governor NS Vishwanathan as the non-executive chairman.

* The third largest private sector bank's board of directors approved the appointment of Vishwanathan as an independent director and non-executive (part-time) chairman for three years, as per an official statement.

* His appointment will be effective from 27 October 2023 or the date of approval of his appointment by the Reserve Bank of India.

* Vishwanathan, a career central banker, was handling critical areas like regulation and quit ahead of his scheduled retirement in 2020.

* Amitabh Chaudhary, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank, said, "His vast knowledge of the financial sector, understanding of the financial sector and expertise in navigating the regulatory landscape will enhance strategic decision-making, while further enhancing our commitment to uphold the highest standards of compliance and corporate governance..

Source : Outlookindia

Correct Answer :   Dubai

---

The inaugural edition of India's first-ever Women's Kabaddi League (WKL) commenced with great fanfare in Dubai on June 16, 2023.

This historic event marks the first time that women kabaddi players from across India have been given the opportunity to exhibit their skills and prowess on a global stage.

The league consists of eight teams, featuring a total of 96 players, each representing Indian states. These teams bear the names of various states, including the Delhi Dynamites, Gujarat Angels, Great Marathas, Haryana Hustlers, Punjab Panthers, Rajasthan Riders, Uma Kolkata, and Bengaluru Hawks.

The victorious team will be awarded a prize of approximately half a million dirhams (equivalent to 1 crore INR). The opening ceremony of the IPL-style women's kabaddi league was graced by the presence of Bollywood actor Govinda, who unveiled the coveted trophy.

APS Sports, the primary organizer of the WKL, highlighted that this substantial reward exemplifies the league's commitment to acknowledging and appreciating the relentless efforts, dedication, and exceptional talent exhibited by these outstanding athletes.

The Women's Kabaddi League is set to span over a period of 12 days, from June 16 to June 27, at the Shabab Al Ahli Sports Club in Dubai. The league's overarching objective is to enhance the prominence of kabaddi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and empower female athletes from India. It provides a robust platform for these exceptional talents to exhibit their prowess, ultimately inspiring a new generation of kabaddi enthusiasts.

Pradeep Kumar Nehra, director of the Women's Kabaddi League, emphasized the league's mission and its impact on women's empowerment, stating, "We have started the league to promote women power. Talented girls from villages and rural areas, who were playing very well in school and college, but could not find a good platform. We tried to give them a platform".

Chandrashekhar Bhatia, a resident of Dubai, shared his thoughts on the initiative, saying, "This is an initiative to fulfill the Prime Minister's dream of promoting women in sports. In the coming times, we hope  basketball, kho-kho, cricket, and other events will be organised."

As the Women's Kabaddi League unfolds in Dubai, it promises to captivate audiences with exhilarating matches and extraordinary displays of athleticism. This landmark event stands as a testament to the growing recognition and support for women's sports, paving the way for a brighter future for female athletes in India and beyond..

Source : AIR