Q1: Who has won the Lausanne Diamond League 2023?
a) Mohammad Hassan
b) Anderson Peters
c) Jakub Vadlejch
d) Neeraj Chopra
Solution: option d.)
Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra topped the Lausanne Diamond League 2023.
Neeraj Chopra achieved the best throw of 87.66m during the competition.
About Diamond League
It is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions.
The Diamond League was established in 2010 as a replacement for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Golden League.
The IAAF Golden League has been held annually since 1998.
Q2: On which day were we observed as ‘National Biryani Day’?
a) 30th June
b) 3rd July
c) 29th June
d) 2nd July
Solution: option d.)
A consumer food company’s flagship brand Daawat Basmati Rice has created a unique occasion for Biryani lovers across the world by celebrating Biryani Day across the globe on the 1st Sunday of every July, and this year it falls on July 2.
The word Biryani is derived from the Persian word Birian, which means ‘fried before cooking’ and Birinj means rice.
Origin of Biryani
There are various theories related to the origin of this scrumptious dish. Many historians believe that biryani originated from Persia, was brought to India by the Mughals, and further developed in the Mughal royal kitchen.
Q3: On which day the 6th GST day was celebrated?
a) 30th June
b) 3rd July
c) 1st July
d) 2nd July
Solution: option c.)
Mumbai CGST & Central Excise Zone celebrated the 6th GST Day on 1st July 2023. Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Ramesh Bais graced the occasion as the event’s Chief Guest. Officers and staff from Mumbai CGST & Central Excise Zone, Mumbai Customs, Maharashtra State GST officers, and taxpayers were present.
The idea of a nationwide GST in India was first proposed by the Kelkar Task Force on Indirect taxes in 2000.
The objective was to replace the prevailing complex and fragmented tax structure with a unified system that would simplify compliance, reduce tax cascading, and promote economic integration.
Q4: Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state?
a) Bihar
b) Chhattisgarh
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Uttar Pradesh
Solution: option d.)
Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh, India. Established in 1986, it covers 2,073 km² across Meerut, Muzzafarnagar, Ghaziabad, Bijnor, Meerut and Amroha districts.
Three avian species have been confirmed as resident species at the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary by experts for the first time. A group of experts including assistant director at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Rajat Bhargava, while conducting the government-directed Sarus crane census, were thrilled to hear calls of Greater racket-tailed drongo, known for its loud musical whistling sound.
Uttar Pradesh Capital: Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh CM: Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Governor: Anadiben Patel
Q5: Who will be the new CFO of SBI?
a) KV Kamath
b) Prashant Kumar
c) Kameshwar Rao
d) Debadatta Chand
Solution: option c.)
State Bank of India announced the appointment of Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti, who has been with the bank since 1991, as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Kodavanti replaces Charanjit Surinder Singh Attra who has resigned from the post.
“Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti has been appointed as CFO of State Bank of India with effect from July 1, 2023,” the country’s largest lender said in a filing to stock exchanges.
He has been working with the State Bank of India since August 1991 and has experience in the fields of banking, forex, finance, and accounting.
Q6: In which state, is Nagamuchillinda Stupa located?
a) Kerala
b) Telangana
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Andhra Pradesh
Solution: option b.)
The Nagamuchilinda Buddhist Stupa at Dhulikatta in Peddapalli district, which takes the Buddhist heritage of Telangana to the 2nd century BC, got special recognition with the Department of Posts releasing its special cover to mark ‘nine years of Telangana Statehood’.
Located on the banks of Hussaini Vagu, about 30 km from Karimnagar, and inscribed in Brahmi, the Stupa belongs to the Hinayana sect. It shows symbols of Chatra, Padukas, the throne with Swastika and the Pillar of Fire.
Telangana CM: Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao
Telangana Capital: Hyderabad
Telangana Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
Q7: In which state ‘One-Tap-One-Tree’ campaign has been launched?
a) Jharkhand
b) Bihar
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Uttar Pradesh
Solution: option d.)
The Uttar Pradesh government launched the ‘One-Tap-One-Tree’ campaign on July 1, in a bid to protect the state’s green cover and provide potable drinking water to households in rural areas. The campaign is a joint effort of the National Green Revolution Programme (NGP) and the rural water supply department (RWD).
As part of this initiative, the state government has set an ambitious target of planting five lakh saplings within a week, from July 1 to July 7.
This endeavour is a crucial step towards securing a greener future for Uttar Pradesh and safeguarding the health of its residents by ensuring access to safe drinking water.
Uttar Pradesh Capital: Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh CM: Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Governor: Anadiben Patel
Q8: Recently, Michael Rosen has been awarded which Prestigious Prize 2023?
a) PEN Pinter Prize
b) Costa Book Prize
c) Pulitzer Prize
d) Booker Prize
Solution: option a.)
Michael Rosen, a British children’s writer and performance poet, has been awarded the PEN Pinter Prize 2023.
The prize is given to a writer from the UK, Ireland, and the Commonwealth who is committed to fearless exposition of truth about contemporary life.
Michael Rosen’s works are known for his accessible poetry for children and his themes often touch on social, political, and ethical issues. PEN Pinter Prize: It was established in 2009 in memory of Nobel Laureate playwright Harold Pinter.
Q9: Utah Mountains, which were seen in the news for Watermelon Snow, are situated in which country?
a) Australia
b) USA
c) Ukraine
d) Netherland
Solution: option b.)
Watermelon snow is a natural occurrence found in mountainous regions worldwide, where the vibrant colour of the snow is caused by green algae bloom that thrives in cold, snowy conditions.
This phenomenon can give the appearance of the snow changing colour, but it is actually due to the presence of the algae. This was recently reported in the Utah Mountains, USA.
USA President: Joe Bidden
USA Capital: Washington DC
Q10: What is the GST collection for June 2023?
a) ₹ 1.61 Lakh Crores
b) ₹ 1.33 Lakh Crores
c) ₹ 1.74 Lakh Crores
d) ₹ 1.59 Lakh Crores
Solution: option a.)
The gross GST revenue collected in June 2023 is ₹1, 61,497 crore of which CGST is ₹31,013 crore, SGST is ₹38,292 crore, IGST is
₹80,292 crores (including ₹ 39,035 crores collected on import of goods) and cess is ₹11,900 crore (including ₹ 1,028 crores collected on import of goods).
The government has settled ₹36,224 crore to CGST and ₹30269 crore to SGST from IGST. The total revenue of the Centre and the States in June 2023 after the regular settlement is ₹67,237 crore for CGST and ₹68,561 crore for SGST.
The revenues for June 2023 are 12% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year. During the month, the revenues from domestic transactions (including import of services) are 18% higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year.
Q11: Which state emerges as India’s Top Electronic exporter?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Karnataka
c) Gujarat
d) Maharashtra
Solution: option a.)
Tamil Nadu has overtaken Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka for the first time to emerge as India’s top electronics exporter in the fiscal year ended March 2023 as the global giants Foxconn and Pegatron accelerated iPhone exports last year.
Exports data released by the Central government for FY23 shows that Tamil Nadu’s electronics exports almost tripled in the last fiscal and stood at $5.37 billion up from $1.86 billion in the previous year. This helped TN swiftly climb the ladder from the fourth spot in FY22 to bagging the top spot in FY23.
Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai
Tamil Nadu CM: MK Stalin
Tamil Nadu Governor: RN Ravi
Q12: Which state won the title of Senior National Women’s Football Champion?
a) Jharkhand
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Kerala
d) Karnataka
Solution: option b.)
Tamil Nadu beat Haryana 2-1 in the final to clinch the senior women’s National football championship at the Guru Nanak stadium in Amritsar on Wednesday.
Tamil Nadu had last won the title in 2018.
After Renu Rani, with the help of a deflection off a TN defender, put Haryana ahead in the 50th minute, Priyadharshini equalised with her header off a corner kick from Malavika in the 56th minute. Indumathi struck the winning goal off a penalty in the 83rd minute.
Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai
Tamil Nadu CM: MK Stalin
Tamil Nadu Governor: RN Ravi
Q13: The Cabinet approved a new scheme PM-PRANAM to incentivize states to promote alternative fertilizers. What is the meaning of R in PRANAM?
a) Restoration
b) Research
c) Reduce
d) Revamp
Solution: option a.)
The Yojana’s full form is the ‘Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth’ (PRANAM). The scheme is to incentivise States and Union Territories to promote alternative fertilisers and counteracted the use of chemical fertilisers.
This scheme strives to decrease the usage of chemical fertilisers in the states.
The scheme will not have a separate budget and will be subsidized by the savings of existing fertiliser assistance under schemes run by the Department of Fertilisers.
According to the reports, 50% subsidy savings will be given as a grant to the state that saves the money. 70% can be used for asset creation related to the technological adoption of alternative fertilisers and alternative fertiliser production units at village, block, and district levels, out of the total grant given to the state under the scheme.
Q14: Ajit Pawar becomes the new deputy CM of which state?
a) Chhattisgarh
b) Maharashtra
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Kerala
Solution: option b.)
NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Sunday afternoon (July 2), after recent political developments in his party reportedly left him disgruntled, resulting in him joining the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) government.
Pawar took eight MLAs with him from the NCP, which is currently in opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, to the Eknath Shinde-led government. Earlier in 2019, he had joined hands with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and had taken an oath as the state’s Deputy Chief Minister, along with Fadnavis as the Chief Minister.
Q15: Who becomes the new Solicitor General of India?
a) Ashok Daval
b) Tushar Mehta
c) Kavita Singh
d) Niranjan Mehta
Solution: option b.)
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved reappointment of the Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General of India.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also approved the re-appointment of other six law officers Vikramjit Banerjee, KM Nataraj, Balbir Singh, SV Raju, N Venkataraman and Aishwarya Bhati as Additional Solicitor General for the Supreme Court for three years.