This is the current affairs of 20 & 21 June 2023. Here are 10 questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. How many centimeters did the earth tilt between 1993 and 2010 due to the extraction of huge amount of groundwater?
a. 50 CM
b. 60 CM
c. 70 CM
d. 80 CM
Answer: d. 80 CM
– According to the newspaper “The Hindu,” scientists from the American Geophysical Union (AGU) have conducted this research.
– According to it, people extracted 2,150 billion tons of water from the ground, with most of it flowing into the oceans.
– This water caused an increase of more than 0.24 inches, equivalent to six millimeters, in sea levels.
– As a result, the Earth has tilted approximately 31.5 inches or 80 centimeters towards the east between the years 1993 and 2010.
The rotation pole (axis of rotation) of the Earth is the point around which the planet spins.
– Currently, the axial tilt of the Earth is approximately 23.44 degrees.
– The position of the Earth’s rotation pole differs from the planet’s crust.
– To understand this, it is important to note that the Earth is not a perfect sphere, and it has irregularities in its shape, mass distribution, and rotational motion.
– These irregularities can cause variations in mass distribution, such as the melting of ice caps or changes in the Earth’s internal mass, which affect the planet’s rotation.
– However, scientists have found that pumping groundwater has a greater impact on these irregularities.
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2. Who became the new chief of intelligence agency RAW?
a. Ravi Sinha
b. Rakesh Verma
c. Vijay Pratap
d. Asha Surekha
Answer: a. Ravi Sinha
– The central government has appointed Ravi Sinha as the new head of India’s external intelligence agency, RAW (Research and Analysis Wing).
– His appointment is for a period of two years. He has taken the place of Samant Kumar Goel.
– Ravi Sinha is an IPS officer from the 1988 batch of the Chhattisgarh cadre. Originally, he hails from Bihar.
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3. When did Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive on his first state visit to America (USA)?
a. 21 May 2022
b. 21 June 2023
c. 21 July 2023
d. 22 June 2023
Answer: b. 21 June 2023
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the United States for a four-day trip.
– Although PM Modi has previously met with the President at the White House, this is the first time that, under President Biden’s administration, an official dinner is being hosted for PM Modi.
– He is on a tour of the United States from the 21st to the 24th of June.
– On the 21st of June, he led the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters.
– American President Joe Biden will host an official dinner for Narendra Modi on the 22nd of June.
Biden to Host Third State Dinner
– This will be President Biden’s third state dinner since becoming President of the United States.
– Previously, he hosted a dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron in December 2022.
– The state dinner is the official dinner of the United States.
– It is hosted at the White House.
– During the state dinner, the President of the United States and the First Lady host a dinner for the head of government of another country.
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4. To convert G20 into G21, PM Modi proposed to make which association a member?
a. BRICS
b. African Union
c. United Nations
d. SCO
Answer: b. African Union
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to the leaders of the G20 in June 2023, proposing the inclusion of the African Union as a member.
– If the G20 member countries agree to it, the G20 could become the G21.
– Earlier, discussions on this matter also took place after the ‘Voice of the Global South’ Summit in January 2023.
G20 Summit to be held in India
India is the chair of the G20.
– The summit is scheduled to take place on the 9th and 10th of September 2023 in Delhi.
– Prior to this, Prime Minister Modi has written to the G20 leaders proposing full membership for the African Union in the upcoming Delhi Summit.
– Currently, only one country from the African continent, South Africa, is a member of the G20.
How many countries are there in the African continent?
– There are 54 countries in the African continent.
– Most African countries were included in the G20 Summit held in Indonesia in January at the beginning of the year.
Countries included in the G20:
– Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union are part of the G20.
– G20 member countries represent approximately 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and nearly two-thirds of the world’s population.
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5. Which Indian aviation company has placed an order to buy 500 Airbus aircraft, breaking Air India’s record?
a. Vistara
b. IndiGo
c. Deccan Air
d. Go Air
Answer: b. IndiGo
– InterGlobe Aviation Limited, also known as IndiGo, has announced the purchase of 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft on June 19, 2023.
– With this, IndiGo has become the world’s first airline to place such a large order at once.
– The delivery of these aircraft is expected to take place between 2030 and 2035.
– This is the largest order in commercial aviation history so far.
– Prior to IndiGo, this record belonged to Air India.
– Air India had signed the world’s largest aviation deal for 470 aircraft in February 2023, but now IndiGo has taken this record in its name.
Where was the agreement to purchase aircraft made?
– This deal took place at the 54th International Paris Air Show in 2023 between Airbus and IndiGo.
– IndiGo will spend $50 billion, which is approximately ₹4.09 lakh crore, to purchase 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft.
– However, the actual cost of the order could be lower as significant discounts are usually offered on such large deals.
IndiGo has more than 300 aircraft
– IndiGo’s order includes A320neo, A321neo, and A321 XLR aircraft.
– Currently, IndiGo has over 300 aircraft.
– It also has previous orders for a total of 480 aircraft, with expected delivery by the end of 2030.
Why are Indian companies buying so many aircraft?
– The number of air travelers in India is rapidly increasing.
– In 2013-14, there were 60 million air passengers in the country, which has now grown to 200 million, while the number of aircraft increased from 400 to 700.
– It is expected that the number of air travelers in India could double by the year 2027.
– Currently, there are only 700 passenger planes, which is insufficient. Therefore, in the coming years, 3-4 new airlines are entering the market, and Air India is also tripling its fleet.
IndiGo:
Chairman: Ronojoy Dutta
MD: Wolfgang Prock-Schauer
CEO: Ronojoy Dutta
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6. India announced to gift which warship to Vietnam?
a. INS Kirpan
b. INS Vikrant
c. INS Vishal
d. INS Vikramaditya
Answer: a. INS Kirpan
– Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang held bilateral talks in Delhi on 18th and 19th June.
– During this time, discussions were held on bilateral issues, including defense, security, and maritime relations between India and Vietnam.
– During the meeting, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced the gifting of the warship “INS Kripa” to Vietnam.
– Subsequently, the Defense Minister announced the gifting of the indigenous missile corvette “INS Kripa” to the Vietnamese Navy.
Review of the situation in the South China Sea
– Both sides are focusing on enhancing bilateral defense relations and reviewing the situation in the South China Sea.
– Increased aggression by China has been observed in this region.
What happened in the bilateral talks?
– The bilateral talks included extensive discussions on defense, military, high-level visits, training programs, United Nations peacekeeping, and bilateral services.
– Talks also took place in the areas of defense industry cooperation, maritime security, and multilateral cooperation.
– It was stated during the talks that INS Kripa would prove to be a milestone in enhancing the capabilities of the Vietnam People’s Navy.
– Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan and other top officials from the Ministry of Defense were present during the talks.
Last year’s visit by the Defense Minister to Vietnam
– Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam in June 2022.
– During the visit, a Joint Vision Statement on defense partnership and a Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Logistics Support were signed between the two countries.
What is special about INS Kripa?
– INS Kripa is a domestically built warship in India.
– It is equipped with a 30 mm close-range gun.
– It is capable of engaging surface-to-surface missiles.
– It was inducted into the Indian Navy in the year 1991.
– It has a weight of 1350 tons, a length of 91 meters, and a width of 11 meters.
– With a speed of 46 kilometers per hour in the sea, it can accommodate 120 sailors.
Vietnam
– Capital: Hanoi
– President: Vo Van Thuong
– Prime Minister: Pham Minh Chinh
– Currency: Vietnamese Dong
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7. When is International Yoga Day celebrated?
a. 20 June
b. 21 June
c. 22 June
d. 23 June
Answer: b. 21 June
Theme 2023
– Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Why is International Yoga Day celebrated on June 21st?
– Actually, June 21st is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, known as the summer solstice.
– India proposed this day to the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, which was accepted.
– Since 2015, International Yoga Day has been celebrated worldwide.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations.
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8. When was the International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice celebrated?
a. 18 June
b. 19 June
c. 20 June
d. 21 June
Answer: d. 21 June
– This day is declared by the United Nations.
– There are two solstices in a year, the summer solstice and the winter solstice.
Summer Solstice:
– It is commonly known as the “grishma sankranti” in Hindi.
– It is the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
– In Delhi, this day lasts for approximately 14 hours.
– On the other hand, the winter solstice (usually referred to as “shītakālīn sankranti”) is the shortest day and the first day of winter.
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9. When is World Refugee Day celebrated?
a. 20 June
b. 19 June
c. 18 June
d. 17 June
Answer: a. 20 June
Theme 2023
– Hope Away from Home
– The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the situation of refugees around the world.
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10. To whom did the Central Government announce the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021?
a. Vivekananda Organization
b. RSS
c. Geeta Press (Gorakhpur)
d. None of these
Answer: c. Geeta Press (Gorakhpur)
– The announcement of this award was made by the Ministry of Culture.
– The management of Geeta Press has stated that they will accept the Gandhi Peace Award but will not accept a cash prize of one crore rupees.
– Geeta Press is currently celebrating its centenary year (100th anniversary).
– Geeta Press was established in 1923 and is one of the largest publishers in the world.
– Its founder was Seth Jaydayal Goyandka.
– It publishes Hindu religious scriptures.
Gandhi Peace Award:
– This annual award was established by the Indian government in 1995.
– The award is given to individuals, organizations, or institutions who have worked selflessly for peace, non-violence, and alleviating human suffering.
– It includes a cash prize of one crore rupees, a plaque, a citation, and an exquisite traditional handicraft product.
– The award is presented by the President of India at a ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
