This is the current affairs of 11th & 12th June 2023. Here are 12 questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. In which country will the Miss World 2023 pageant ceremony be organized?
a. China
b. New Zealand
c. India
d. Japan
Answer: c. India
– The Miss World competition took place in India for the first time in 1996.
– Miss Julia Morley, the CEO of Miss World Organization, said that this year’s 71st beauty pageant will include contestants from 130 countries.
– In the events of the year 2023, all eyes will be on Uttar Pradesh as the ramp will be set up at various places in Varanasi and Agra.
– Initially, this event was supposed to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but it has now been shifted to India.
– The 71st edition of Miss World could be held in November or December.
– Miss India (2022) Sini Shetty will represent India in this year’s Miss World pageant in 2023.
– Whereas Miss India 2023, Nandini Gupta, will participate in the competition of the year 2024.
Miss World 2022 – Karolina Bilavska
Miss India 2023 – Nandini Gupta
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2. Which Indian has been selected by UNESCO for the ‘Michel Batis Award 2023’?
a. Biraj Kanti Mandal
b. Jagdish S Bakan
c. Anil Prakash
d. Jagdeep Dhankhar
Answer: b. Jagdish S Bakan
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3. UNESCO announced the ‘Michel Batis Award 2023’ to Jagdish S. Bakan for his efforts in which biosphere reserve management?
a. Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh
b. Sundarbans, West Bengal
c. Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat
d. Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu
Answer: d. Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu
– Jagdish S. Bakane is the director of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.
– He is also the Wildlife Warden and District Forest Officer (DFO) of Ramanathapuram district.
– He has been selected for his efforts in managing the Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program.
About the award:
– The Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management is a $12,000 prize that is awarded every two years (by UNESCO). It is given in memory of Dr. Michel Batisse.
About the Gulf of Mannar:
– This biosphere reserve is located between Dhanushkodi and Thoothukudi on the sea and coast in a 160 km area in Tamil Nadu, India.
– This marine biosphere reserve includes a chain of 21 islands (2 of them already submerged) and coral reefs adjacent to the shores.
– It was declared as the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park in 1980.
– Later, it was designated as a biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve policy.
– There are three ecological components here – mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs.
– The dugong, an endangered marine mammal, is the main attraction here.
What is a biosphere reserve?
– Generally, national parks or wildlife sanctuaries are created to protect a specific species or area.
– However, a biosphere reserve is somewhat different. Its purpose is to maintain a balanced relationship between people and nature.
– It is an area whose main objective is not only protection but also balanced natural development.
– It is an area where humans, animals, and plants coexist with a balanced approach so that nature is not disturbed, and its conservation and protection can also take place.
– It means that nature can survive, humans can thrive, and development can also occur.
– The residents (indigenous people) here live in harmony with nature and are not disturbed. These areas can be on land, coastal, or marine regions.
Who establishes biosphere reserves?
– Biosphere reserves are established by the governments of countries and recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program.
– The objective of UNESCO’s MAB program is to achieve sustainable development through the efforts of local communities and science (research and development).
Where did the concept of biosphere reserves come from?
– The concept emerged under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program in 1971.
– Various countries designate their areas as biosphere reserve areas.
– Governments then recommend these areas to UNESCO for inclusion in the MAB program.
– UNESCO then includes them in their biosphere reserve according to their standards.
– When UNESCO includes a biosphere reserve in its MAB list, it becomes part of the international network. Experts from around the world visit and work there.
– India initiated the National Biosphere Reserve Program in 1986, 15 years after the start of UNESCO’s MAB program.
Objectives and Focus of the Biosphere Program:
– Conservation: To conserve biodiversity and cultural diversity.
– Development: To promote economic development that is socially and culturally sustainable, as well as environmentally sustainable (environmentally sustainable development that does not harm the tribes and nature in that area).
– Logistics: To support development activities through scientific research, monitoring, and training.
Number of zones in a Biosphere Reserve:
– There are three zones – Core Area, Buffer Zone, and Transition Zone.
– Core Zone: No intervention is allowed here. It is legally protected, and human activities are restricted.
– Buffer Zone: Research and education activities take place here. Visitors are allowed, but they should not disturb the core area. Tourism and fishing activities can be conducted here, ensuring the core area remains undisturbed.
– Transition Area: This is the outer area where human habitation is present.
Biosphere Reserves in India: 18
– Out of these, 12 are under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve Program.
List of Biosphere Reserves in India:
– Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh
– Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Khangchendzonga, Sikkim (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Dihang-Dibang, Arunachal Pradesh
– Manas, Assam
– Dibru-Saikhowa, Assam (Smallest area)
– Nokrek, Meghalaya (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Panna, Madhya Pradesh (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Achankamar-Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat (Largest area)
– Similipal, Odisha (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Sundarbans, West Bengal (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Seshachalam, Andhra Pradesh
– Agasthyamala, Karnataka-Tamil Nadu-Kerala (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu-Kerala (First Biosphere Reserve) (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu (Included in UNESCO MAB)
– Great Nicobar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Included in UNESCO MAB)
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4. Which country has the maximum number of real time payment (digital) transactions in the year 2022?
a. India
b. Brazil
c. China
d. Thailand
Answer: a. India
– If any transaction is done through digital like UPI, net banking, mobile banking then it is a real time transaction. Due to this, the amount is transferred immediately.
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5. In the year 2022, how many times the world’s maximum real time payment (digital) transaction took place in India?
a. 89.5 billion (89.5 thousand crores)
b. 29.2 billion (29.2 thousand crores)
c. 90.5 billion (90.5 thousand crores)
d. 16.5 billion (16.5 thousand crores)
Answer: a. 89.5 billion (8.95 thousand crores)
– In the year 2022 (January to December), India ranked first in terms of global digital payments with 89.5 billion real-time transactions.
– MyGovIndia has presented the figures for 2022. These numbers are part of the report issued by ‘ACI Worldwide’.
Top 5 countries in digital transactions:
1. India: 89.5 billion transactions
2. Brazil: 29.2 billion transactions
3. China: 17.6 billion transactions
4. Thailand: 16.5 billion transactions
5. South Korea: 8 billion transactions
Note: On June 9, 2023, an incorrect tweet was made from the MyGovIndia Twitter handle stating that there were 89.5 million transactions in 2022. Subsequently, most newspapers reported the news based on this information. However, the very next day, on June 10, 2023, MyGovIndia tweeted with the correct figures. According to the corrected tweet, there were 89.5 billion transactions.
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6. In the year 2022, what percentage of the world’s real time payment (digital) transactions took place in India?
a. 40%
b. 46%
c. 48%
d. 50%
Answer: b. 46%
– According to MyGovIndia and ‘ACI Worldwide’, India contributed 46% to global real-time payments in the year 2022.
– The total number of real-time payment transactions worldwide was 195 billion.
– In India, it was 89.5 billion.
– This means that 46% of global transactions took place in India.
– Brazil, which is in the second position, accounted for 15% of global transactions.
UPI brings revolutionary change
– One of the significant reasons for the increasing number of real-time transactions in India is UPI.
– UPI introduced the convenience of instant transactions, which has astonished the world with its success.
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7. When is the World Day Against Child Labour celebrated?
a. 11 June
b. 12 June
c. 13 June
d. 14 June
Answer: b. 12 June
Theme 2023 :
– Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!
– This day is proclaimed by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
– Child labor deprives children of education and opportunities and hinders them from obtaining decent income and stable employment as adults.
– Child labor steals their innocence, their rights, and their normal childhood, as they are forced to work in harsh conditions and often become victims of abuse.
– Struggles, crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed more families into poverty and compelled millions of children into child labor.
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8. Which Indian-American has been appointed as the Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Harvard University?
a. Ritu kalra
b. Rohini Katyal
c. Princess Carle
d. Pallavi Joshi
Answer: a. Ritu kalra
– Ritu Kalra currently serves as Assistant Vice President and Special Projects Advisor for Finance and Treasury at Harvard University.
– She will take over the responsibility of the post of CFO from June 6, 2023, in July.
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9. Who is the winning team of ICC World Test Championship 2023?
a. India
b. Australia
c. new zealand
d. Bangladesh
Answer: b. Australia
– The final match took place between the teams of India and Australia from 7th to 11th June 2023.
– This match was held at The Oval in England.
– Australia defeated India by 209 runs to clinch the victory.
– The winning Australian team received 13.2 crores, while the Indian team, which finished in second place, received 6.5 crores.
– In this five-day match, Australian batsmen and bowlers performed outstandingly.
– Captain of the Indian team: Rohit Sharma
– Captain of the Australian team: Pat Cummins
– The World Test Championship included teams from 9 countries.
– Man of the Match: Travis Head (Australia)
Which countries’ teams participated?
– India, England, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh, and New Zealand.
Championship:
– The World Test Championship started in 2019.
– In 2021, New Zealand became the first champion.
– In 2023, Australia became the champion.
– India secured the second position in both editions.
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10. Who among the following is conducting research to find out the reasons for the increasing number of sudden deaths while walking?
a. ICMR
b. AIIMS
c. IGMS
d. PGI
Answer: a. ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)
– ICMR is conducting a total of four types of studies.
What are the topics on which ICMR is conducting the study?
– Why has there been an increase in the number of sudden deaths among people?
– Why are there sudden deaths occurring during conversations, walks, and stage shows?
The study primarily focuses on three points:
1. Among those who experienced sudden death, did they exhibit common COVID symptoms?
2. Did they have severe COVID?
3. Whether they received the vaccine before hospitalization or after discharge.
ICMR has collected data from 39 hospitals.
– ICMR is studying the data of COVID patients admitted to these 39 hospitals since 2020.
– It is being investigated how patients who were admitted to hospitals and later discharged but died, faced their demise.
– The interim analysis of the study will be completed by the end of this month, June.
– After that, some conclusions may be drawn regarding the causes of these deaths.
Separate Study on Deaths of Young Men aged 18 to 45
– One of the four studies conducted by ICMR is being carried out at AIIMS.
– This study examines the deaths of young men aged 18 to 45.
– The ICMR team is conducting a detailed analysis of their post-mortem reports.
– It investigates the effects on different parts of the body and examines the changes in the blood.
– It also looks into when they contracted COVID-19.
– Whether they received the vaccine, whether they experienced severe COVID-19 or not is also being examined.
– In addition to that, data is being collected for those who survived as well.
– Furthermore, another study is investigating cases of heart attacks and blood clotting.
ICMR – Indian Council of Medical Research
– Director-General: Dr. Rajiv Bahl
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11. Cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ to hit Saurashtra-Kutch coasts by 15 June 2023
- Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy[a] is a powerful tropical cyclone that formed over the east-central Arabian Sea and is expected to make landfall near the India-Pakistan border.
- The third depression and the second cyclonic storm of the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Biparjoy originated from a depression that was first noted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 6 June, before intensifying into a cyclonic storm.
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12. Who became the new Director General (DG) of BSF?
a. Nitin Agarwal
b. Sameer Singh
c. Neeraj Agarwal
d. Ankit Agarwal
Answer: a. Nitin Agarwal
– IPS officer Nitin Agarwal from the Kerala cadre has been appointed as the DIG of the Border Security Force (BSF).
– The position of BSF Director-General had been vacant since Pankaj Kumar Singh retired on December 31, 2022.
– However, DIG Sujay Lal Thaosen of the CRPF is currently holding additional charge of the BSF.
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By whom were they appointed?
– He was appointed by the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) as the Director-General of BSF, according to the orders issued.
– He was appointed as the Director-General of BSF on the night of June 11th.
Who is Nitin Agarwal?
– Nitin Agarwal is an IPS officer from the 1989 batch of the Kerala cadre.
– Currently, Nitin Agarwal is serving as the Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in addition to his role as the Director-General.
– Nitin Agarwal has previously worked in various departments in Kerala and has also held the position of Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
