Monthly Current Affairs June 2024
India Clinches T20 World Cup; Virat Kohli Announces Retirement
India triumphed in the T20 World Cup after 11 years, defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final. The victory was marked by an emotional announcement from captain Virat Kohli, who declared his retirement from international cricket.
SpaceX Secures $843 Million NASA Contract
NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to develop a spacecraft for safely deorbiting the International Space Station by 2030. While SpaceX handles construction, NASA will oversee operations and ownership.
Antonio Costa and Ursula Von der Leyen Assume Key EU Roles
Former Portuguese PM Antonio Costa was appointed President of the European Council. Ursula Von der Leyen retained her role as European Commission President for a second term.
RBI Introduces Revised Currency Swap Framework for SAARC Countries
The RBI, with government approval, launched a new framework for 2024-2027, featuring INR and USD/Euro swap windows. The INR window has a ₹250 billion corpus, and the USD/Euro facility offers $2 billion. This initiative enhances financial stability in the region.
AI for Forest Fire Detection at Pench Tiger Reserve
Maharashtra’s Pench Tiger Reserve implemented an advanced AI system to detect forest fires, marking a milestone in wildlife conservation.
Adani Defence Partners with Thales and EDGE Group
Adani Defence & Aerospace signed agreements with Thales Group for 70mm rocket manufacturing and UAE’s EDGE Group for advanced defence systems. The firm unveiled the indigenous Drishti-10 UAV with 70% local content.
10 MWp Floating Solar Plant at Igatpuri by Central Railway
Central Railway installed a floating solar plant in Igatpuri Lake, saving ₹4.62 crore annually. It aligns with its 2030 net-zero carbon goal.
Shafali Verma’s Record-Breaking Double Century
Indian opener Shafali Verma achieved a historic double century in a one-off Test match against South Africa at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium.
Vikram Misri Appointed as Foreign Secretary
Deputy NSA Vikram Misri will assume the role of Foreign Secretary on July 15. A specialist in India-China relations, he is expected to focus on ongoing tensions with Beijing.
UP Government Plans Bioplastic Park
The Uttar Pradesh government announced a bioplastic park in Lakhimpur Kheri to address environmental challenges and boost the economy.
International Day of Parliamentarism
Observed on June 30, this year’s theme, “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace,” highlights parliaments’ role in fostering international cooperation.
India Contributes $1.16 Million for Hindi @ UN Project
India reinforced efforts to promote Hindi at the UN, supporting outreach and awareness for Hindi-speaking populations worldwide.
DRDO Completes Six Successful Trials of ABHYAS
The DRDO tested the ABHYAS High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target, designed for autonomous flight, enhancing India’s defence capabilities.
RBI Projects Improved Bank Asset Quality
The GNPA ratio of scheduled commercial banks is expected to drop to 2.5% by March 2025, reflecting improved financial stability.
SBI Raises ₹10,000 Crore via Infrastructure Bonds
SBI successfully issued infrastructure bonds at a 7.36% coupon rate, oversubscribed nearly fourfold, highlighting investor confidence.
India’s External Debt and Short-Term Debt Ratios Decline
Despite a rise in total debt to $663.8 billion, short-term debt ratios decreased, reflecting India’s improved external sector resilience.
Morgan Stanley Lauds PM Gati Shakti Scheme
Morgan Stanley credited India’s infrastructure boom and targeted investments under PM Gati Shakti, predicting a 15.3% CAGR and $1.45 trillion spend over five years.
Denmark Introduces Tax on Livestock Farmers
Denmark announced a 2030 livestock tax to cut methane emissions, aiming for a 70% reduction in greenhouse gases from 1990 levels.
Arundhati Roy Wins Pen Pinter Prize 2024
Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy received the Pen Pinter Prize for her significant literary contributions and advocacy for free expression.
NASA Launches Final GOES Satellite via SpaceX
NASA’s GOES-U satellite, launched by SpaceX, enhances weather monitoring capabilities, replacing GOES-T in geostationary orbit.
Amendment to Central Civil Services Leave Rules
Commissioning mothers via surrogacy are now entitled to 180 days of maternity leave, and fathers receive 15 days of paternity leave.
India’s GDP Growth Projections Revised Upward
India’s GDP growth is projected to reach up to 7.5% in FY25, supported by resilience in economic indicators and infrastructure spending.
Madhya Pradesh Ministers to Pay Their Own Income Tax
The MP government ruled that state ministers will personally bear their income tax obligations, reversing a 1972 policy.
China’s Chang’e 6 Brings Far-Side Lunar Samples
China achieved a historic feat, returning samples from the moon’s far side to Earth, furthering its space exploration ambitions.
Om Birla Re-Elected as Lok Sabha Speaker
Om Birla’s re-election as Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha underscores India’s strong parliamentary traditions.
JP Nadda Named Leader of the Rajya Sabha
BJP president JP Nadda replaced Piyush Goyal as the Leader of the Rajya Sabha, marking a significant political development.
MCQs on Monthly Current Affairs June 2024
Q1. Which team did India defeat to win the T20 World Cup after 11 years?
a) England
b) Australia
c) South Africa
d) New Zealand
Correct Answer: c) South Africa
Q2. What is the worth of the contract awarded to SpaceX by NASA for constructing a spacecraft to deorbit the ISS?
a) $500 million
b) $843 million
c) $1 billion
d) $2.5 billion
Correct Answer: b) $843 million
Q3. Who has been appointed as the new President of the European Council?
a) Charles Michel
b) Ursula von der Leyen
c) Antonio Costa
d) Emmanuel Macron
Correct Answer: c) Antonio Costa
Q4. What is the total corpus of the INR Swap Window introduced under the RBI’s revised SAARC Currency Swap Facility for 2024-27?
a) ₹100 billion
b) ₹250 billion
c) ₹500 billion
d) ₹1 trillion
Correct Answer: b) ₹250 billion
Q5. Which technology has the Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra adopted for early forest fire detection?
a) Drones
b) Artificial Intelligence
c) Satellite Imaging
d) Internet of Things
Correct Answer: b) Artificial Intelligence
Q6. The Drishti-10 Starliner UAV manufactured by Adani Defence and Aerospace is based on which foreign UAV design?
a) General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
b) Elbit Hermes 900
c) Bayraktar TB2
d) Chengdu Wing Loong
Correct Answer: b) Elbit Hermes 900
Q7. What is the capacity of the floating solar plant installed by Central Railway in Igatpuri Lake?
a) 5 MWp
b) 7 MWp
c) 10 MWp
d) 12 MWp
Correct Answer: c) 10 MWp
Q8. Who will take charge as the Foreign Secretary of India from July 15, 2024?
a) Vinay Mohan Kwatra
b) Harsh Vardhan Shringla
c) Vikram Misri
d) S. Jaishankar
Correct Answer: c) Vikram Misri
Q9. What is the theme for the International Day of Parliamentarism in 2024?
a) Building Bridges for Peace
b) Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding
c) Strengthening Democratic Institutions
d) Celebrating Global Cooperation
Correct Answer: b) Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding
Q10. How many successful development trials of the HEAT ‘ABHYAS’ system have been completed by DRDO?
a) Four
b) Five
c) Six
d) Seven
Correct Answer: c) Six
Q11. What is the projected GDP growth rate for India in FY25, according to the RBI?
a) 6.5%
b) 7.0%
c) 7.2%
d) 7.5%
Correct Answer: c) 7.2%
Q12. What major legal change was made to the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, regarding commissioning mothers?
a) Maternity leave of 180 days
b) Paternity leave of 15 days
c) Childcare leave for all employees
d) No changes were made
Correct Answer: a) Maternity leave of 180 days
Q13. What is the target methane emission reduction for Denmark by 2030?
a) 50%
b) 60%
c) 70%
d) 80%
Correct Answer: c) 70%
Q14. What is the projected cumulative spending on infrastructure in India over the next five years as per Morgan Stanley?
a) $1 trillion
b) $1.2 trillion
c) $1.45 trillion
d) $2 trillion
Correct Answer: c) $1.45 trillion
Q15. What was the amount contributed by India for the ‘Hindi @ UN’ project?
a) $1 million
b) $1.17 million
c) $1.5 million
d) $2 million
Correct Answer: b) $1.17 million
