This is the current affairs of 30 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. Which state’s Governor, R.N. Ravi, took an unprecedented step to dismiss the Minister (Senthil Balaji) without the Chief Minister’s advice and revoked the decision five hours later?
a. Tamil Nadu
b. West Bengal
c. Bihar
d. Uttar Pradesh
Answer: a. Tamil Nadu
– Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji is in jail on charges of corruption. He was arrested by the ED on June 14th.
– Governor R.N. Ravi dismissed Minister Senthil Balaji on the evening of June 29, 2023.
– No advice was sought from the Chief Minister for this.
– However, five hours later, he reversed his decision.
– After seeking advice from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Governor reversed his decision.
– On the other hand, CM M.K. Stalin had called this decision wrong and had mentioned challenging it in court.
– CM M.K. Stalin said that the Governor does not have the authority to dismiss any existing minister. We will fight it legally.
What does the Constitution say?
– Article 164(1) of the Constitution states that the appointment of the Chief Minister will be made by the Governor, and “the appointment of other Ministers shall be made by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.”
– However, a line of Supreme Court judgments has explained that the power of the Governor primarily comes from the “aid and advice” of the Council of Ministers.
– In the case of Shamsher Singh v. State of Punjab in 1974, the Supreme Court’s judgment by a bench of seven judges stated that the Governor should exercise “formal constitutional powers on the aid and advice of his Ministers, except in some exceptional circumstances.”
– However, exceptional circumstances refer to situations where the government has lost its majority or a decision to invite a particular party to form the government.
Expert Opinion
– According to Indian Express, former Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Acharya told The Indian Express that this might be the first case of a minister being dismissed by a Governor without the consent of the Chief Minister.
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2. In which district of Uttar Pradesh ‘Amroha Dholak’ got GI tag?
a. Amroha
b. Kushinagar
c. Gorakhpur
d. Agra
Answer: a. Amroha
– Amroha Dholak: It is a musical instrument made of natural wood.
– It is mainly made from mango and sheesham trees.
The dholak has intricately carved hollow blocks made of wood.
– It is prepared using animal skins, usually goat skin.
In June 2023, Uttar Pradesh received GI tags for 7 products.
– With this, the total number of GI-certified products in UP has reached 52. Out of these, 40 products are handicrafts. UP tops the list in terms of GI tags for handicrafts. Most of the products are related to One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
Who provides the GI tag?
– The GI tag is provided by the Department of Industrial Promotion and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce.
– To obtain a GI tag for a product, one has to apply in the GI database located in Chennai.
– It falls under the realm of intellectual property rights.
What is a GI tag?
– GI stands for Geographical Indication.
– The GI tag is a symbol primarily given to connect a product with its geographical origin.
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3. Which state’s ‘Baghpat Home Furnishings’ was given GI?
a. Bihar
b. Jharkhand
c. Uttar Pradesh
d. Rajasthan
Answer: c. Uttar Pradesh
– Bagpat is known for its home furnishings.
– This district supplies blankets, mattresses, towels, pillows, and other products throughout the country.
– Bagpat is famous for handloom domestic textiles and garments made from cotton threads.
– Only cotton threads are used in handloom weaving.
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4. Barabanki of UP is famous for the production of which product, which got GI tag?
a. Barabanki Handloom Products
b. Barabanki Home Furnishings Product
c. Barabanki Stone Products
d. Barabanki Cycle Products
Answer: a. Barabanki Handloom Products
– Barabanki Handloom Product: There are approximately 50,000 weavers and 20,000 looms in the Barabanki and surrounding areas.
– The estimated annual business of the Barabanki cluster is 150 crore rupees.
– Here, products such as shawls, scarves, and stoles are manufactured.
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5. Which district of Uttar Pradesh got GI tag for ‘Kalpi Handmade Paper’?
a. Jalaun
b. Kannauj
c. Kaushambi
d. Kushinagar
Answer: a. Jalaun
– Kalpi Handmade Paper is a famous product of Kalpi city in Jalaun district.
– It is a historical center of this craftsmanship.
– Gandhian Munnilal ‘Khaddar’ formally introduced this craft here in the 1940s.
– However, many local people claim that the association of Kalpi with papermaking has a much older history.
– More than 5,000 artisans and approximately 200 units are involved in this work.
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6. Which state’s ‘Mahoba Gaura stone handicraft’ got GI tag?
a. Bihar
b. Jharkhand
c. Uttar Pradesh
d. Rajasthan
Answer: c. Uttar Pradesh
– Mahoba Gaura Stone Handicraft is a stone craft.
– It is made of soft stone.
– Its scientific name is “Pyro-Phlite Stone.”
– Gaura Stone, which is used in Gaura Stone Handicraft, is white in color and is particularly found in this region.
– Before using it in handicrafts, Gaura Stone is first broken into small pieces, and then various decorative art objects are created from those pieces.
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7. Which state’s Mainpuri Tarkashi got GI tag?
a. Bihar
b. Jharkhand
c. Uttar Pradesh
d. Rajasthan
Answer: c. Uttar Pradesh
– Mainpuri Tarakashi is a popular art form in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh.
– It mainly involves the work of embedding brass wires onto wood.
– In Mainpuri, specifically, Sheesham wood is used for this art form.
– Besides brass, copper or silver wires are also embedded in the wood.
– This craft is used in the making of jewelry boxes, nameplates, wooden sandals (khadau), and other decorative items.
– Leather is not used in this art form.
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8. ‘Sambhal Horn Craft’ is the product of which district, which got GI tag?
a. Agra
b. Lucknow
c. Lakhimpur Kheri
d. Sambhal
Answer: d. Sambhal
– ‘Sambhal Horn Craft’ is made with handicrafts on the horns of dead animals.
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Revision List Summary
District and GI Tag Products
– Amroha: Amroha Dholak
– Mahoba: Mahoba Gaura Pathar Hastshilp
– Mainpuri: Mainpuri Tarakashi
– Sambhal: Sambhal Horn Craft
– Bagpat: Bagpat Home Furnishings
– Barabanki: Barabanki Handloom Product
– Jalaun: Kalpi Handmade Paper
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9. Which university has topped the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings 2024?
a. Oxford University
b. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
c. Cambridge Cniversity
d. Harvard University
Answer: b. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
– Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has retained its position in the QS World University Rankings.
– In the ranking of 2023, she was at number one with 100 scores.
QS World University Rankings Top 10 Institutions in the world (OVERALL)
Ranking on what basis?
– Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Teacher Student Ratio
– International Faculty Ratio, International Student Ratio, International Research Network, Student Jobs
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10. Which institute in India got the best ranking in QS World University Rankings 2024?
a. IIT Bombay
b. IISc Bangalore
c. JNU Delhi
d. BHU Varanasi
Answer: a. IIT Bombay
– In India, IIT Bombay has secured the top position in the QS World University Rankings.
– In 2024, IIT Bombay has achieved the 149th position in the global rankings.
– In the previous year, 2023, it held the second position with a ranking of 172.
– IIT Bombay has climbed 23 places to reach this milestone.
– Meanwhile, in the rankings for the previous year, 2023, IISc Bangalore (Indian Institute of Science) remained at the top in India, securing the third position with a ranking of 225.
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11. How many institutes of India got ranking in QS World University Rankings?
a. 10
b. 25
c. 35
d. 45
Answer: d. 45
– The QS World University Rankings consist of a list of the top 1500 institutions.
– In the previous ranking of 2023, there were 41 institutions.
– In 2022, there were 35 institutions included.
India ranks third in Asia.
– In the QS World University Rankings, India holds the 7th position globally.
– In Asia, it ranks third.
– Above India in Asia are China and Japan.
– China has 71 universities and Japan has 52 universities included in the rankings.
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QS World University Rankings: Top 10 Institutes in India
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12. When is International Asteroid Day celebrated?
a. 27 June
b. 28 June
c. 29 June
d. 30 June
Answer: d. 30 June
Why is this day celebrated?
– This day is celebrated to raise awareness about asteroids and the potential risks associated with their impacts.
What are asteroids?
– Asteroids are small rocky bodies that orbit around the Sun.
– They typically orbit between Mars and Jupiter.
There are thousands of asteroids present in our solar system.
– An object is called an asteroid as long as it remains in space, but once it enters Earth’s atmosphere, it is referred to as a meteoroid.
Why is this day celebrated on June 30th?
– Actually, on the morning of June 30, 1908, a significant event of an asteroid collision with the Earth occurred in Siberia, Russia.
– There was a massive explosion near the Tunguska River in Russia.
– A meteoroid (also known as an asteroid) that had turned into a large fireball exploded in the atmosphere.
– It released an energy equivalent to 185 Hiroshima atomic bombs.
– The 1908 explosion devastated an area of 2,000 square kilometers in Siberia.
– The explosion destroyed a large forested area.
– Approximately 80 million trees were either knocked down or flattened.
– The Earth trembled at that time, experiencing a 5.0 Richter scale earthquake.
– Windows of buildings shattered in a city located 60 kilometers away.
– Tremors were felt up to a distance of 500 kilometers.
In commemoration of this event, June 30th is celebrated as International Asteroid Day, symbolizing awareness about asteroids and their potential impact.
There is also a lake formed by an asteroid (meteoroid) in India.
– It is located in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra, about 500 kilometers away from Mumbai.
– A meteoroid fell here 50,000 years ago, with a speed of 90,000 kilometers per hour.
– It created a deep crater, resulting in the formation of the lake.
– It is believed that the weight of the meteoroid was ten lakh tons, creating a large crater.
– The lake has a spread of 1.85 kilometers in diameter.
It reaches a depth of up to 500 feet.
– The water in the lake is saline, and the oxygen levels below one meter of water are extremely low (close to none).
– Lonar Lake has been a subject of curiosity and study for scientists worldwide.
– This lake is recognized as a designated National Geo-heritage Monument.
How dangerous is an asteroid?
– In the future, if there is anything that poses the greatest threat to our planet, it is an asteroid.
– It is followed by climate change or global warming.
– In the year 2013, an asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere and exploded over Russia, causing injuries to hundreds of people and extensive damage.
