NATIONAL:
1. Brahmani Natural Arch
Why in news - Geological Survey of India discovered India’s biggest natural arch in Odisha’s Sundargarh district.
Key Points –
• Proposal - declare the “Natural Arch” in the Kanika range of Sundargarh forest division, a Geo Heritage Site.
• Made up of ferruginous sandstone.
• Period - 184 to 160 million yeas ago (lower to middle Jurassic age).
Value Addition -
• Other natural arches in India –
(a) Andhra Pradesh (Tirumala hills in Tirupati).
(b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Sex-Crime Bill
Why in news - Japan passed a landmark sex-crime bill to make a range of sexual offenses more easily punishable.
Key Points –
• Japan’s age of sexual consent was lifted from 13 to 16.
• The age of consent had been unchanged since 1907.
• It criminalizes “photo voyeurism” — secretly taking sexual pictures of people.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) 2023
Why in news - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released GSNI 2023.
Key Points –
• It shows biases and their impact on various aspects of women's lives.
• It tracked people’s attitudes towards women in 4 dimensions – political, educational, economic and physical integrity.
• Key findings –
(a) Nearly 90% of people still hold at least one bias against women.
(b) Women face a 39% average income gap globally.
(c) 50% of world’s population believes that men make better political leaders.
(d) 25% of people believe that it is justified for a man to beat his wife.
(e) Women heads of state or government has remained around 10% worldwide since 1995.
Value Addition:
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. “Silent Barker” Project
Why in news - The US's Space Force to launch a constellation of satellites to deal with threats from China and Russia in space.
Key Points –
• Main focus - tackling Russian and Chinese spying on them through satellites.
• First-of-its-kind project.
• To be placed at an altitude of 22,000 miles (35,400 km) above the Earth in geosynchronous orbit.
• Function – Search, detect and track objects from space, enabling prompt identification of potential threats.
Value Addition-
• Chinese dual-use satellites in space –
(a) SJ-21 satellite (2021) – can maneuver a satellite to a higher orbit.
(b) Sijian-17 - equipped with a robotic arm that has the potential for grappling other satellites.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. 4th National Water Awards 2022
Why in news - Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar conferred 4th National Water Awards.
Key Points –
• 41 winners across 11 categories were awarded in the field of water conservation and management.
• He also launched an animated short film on “Piku”, the mascot of National Water Mission for telecast on Doordarshan.
• Winner –
(a) Overall - Madhya Pradesh (1st), Odisha (2nd), Andhra Pradesh and Bihar (jointly 3rd).
(b) Best district – Ganjam (Odisha), Namakkal district (Tamil Nadu), Adilabad district (Telangana).
(c) Best Village Panchayat - Jagannadhapuram (Bhadradri Kothagudem, Telangana).
(d) Best Urban Local Body – Chandigarh (1st), Indore (2nd), Surat (3rd).
(e) Best Industry - Barauni Thermal Power Station, Begusarai, Bihar.
• India is home to about 18% of the world’s population, over 18% of the livestock, but we have just 4% of the fresh water resources of the world.
2. 45th European Essay Prize
Why in news - Arundhati Roy won the 45th European Essay Prize for her latest essay “Azadi” (2021).
Key Points –
• Her other works - The God of Small Things (Booker Prize), The Ministry of Utmost Happiness and My Seditious Heart.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Global Wind Day
Why in news - Ministry of New and Renewable Energy organized Global Wind Day Event on June 15.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Pawan – Urja: Powering the Future of India”.
• Achievements in 2022-23-
(a) Highest wind capacity addition – Rajasthan.
(b) Highest wind capacity addition through open access – Gujarat.
(c) Repowering of wind turbines - Tamil Nadu.
• Wind Atlas at 150 meters above ground level was launched. It was prepared by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), Chennai.
• Onshore wind potential (150 meters above ground level) - 1,164 GW.
Value Addition –
• India’s rank in wind power capacity in the world – 4th.
• India’s Glasgow commitment (COP26, 2021)–
(a) Reach 500GW Non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
(b) 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.
(c) Reduction of total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now to 2030.
(d) Reduction of the carbon intensity of the economy by 45% by 2030, over 2005 levels.
(e) Achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070.
2. World Sickle Cell Awareness Day
Why in news – It is observed on June 19 each year to raise awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD).
Key Points –
• Theme - Building and strengthening global sickle cell communities, formalizing newborn screening and knowing your sickle cell disease status.
About SCD –
• Genetic blood disorder . It affects hemoglobin.
• People with SCD have atypical hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent shape.
• Irregularly shaped cells can cause blockages in blood vessels, leading to a variety of health complications.
SPORTS:
1. Squash World Cup 2023
Why in news - Egypt won Squash World Cup title.
Key Points –
• Egypt beat Malaysia 2-1 (4-1 on points) in the final.
• Venue – Chennai.
POINTERS:
• Nusrat Chowdhary has become the first Muslim woman federal judge in the history of which country - the United States.
• Who has inaugurated the exhibition titled ‘Our Language, Our Heritage’ - Meenakashi Lekhi.
• Who has been selected as the new chief of the Research and Analysis Wing - Ravi Sinha.
• India has won the Intercontinental Cup 2023 by defeating which country – Lebanon.
• Which country has created a national record by launching 41 satellites with a single rocket – China.
• Which union minister launched the "Dugdh Sanakalan Sathi Mobile App" in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand - Mahendra Nath Pandey.
• Who is leading the committee set up to recommend reforms to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996 - T K Vishwanathan.
• The National Yoga Olympiad is being organized in which state ahead of the main event - Madhya Pradesh.
• What is the mascot of the upcoming 37th National Games in Goa – Moga (Indian Wheat).
• Who has penned a book titled "A Life Well Spent – Four Decades in the Indian Foreign Service" - Satish Chandra.