Daily Current Affairs Quiz: June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

World Day Against Child Labour is observed annually on:

(A) 10 June
(B) 11 June
(C) 12 June
(D) 13 June

Show Answer

Answer: C

Observed annually on 12 June.

Aim : to raise awareness and promote action to end child labour globally.

Started By: International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2002.
Purpose: To focus attention on eliminating child labour, especially the worst forms.
Global Support: Linked to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7 – ending child labour in all forms by 2025.
India’s Status: Child labour is banned under Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, amended in 2016.

Consider the following statements about Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4):
(i) It is organised by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX.
(ii) Its crew includes the first Indian to visit the International Space Station.
(i) Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) Only I
(B) Only II
(C) Both I and II
(D) Neither I nor II

Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context: The launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which includes Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed due to technical issues.

About axiom mission 4 (Ax-4)

Organised By: Axiom Space (USA), in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX.
Launch Vehicle: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 with Dragon spacecraft.
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center, USA.
Mission Type: Private human spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS).
Duration: Around 14 days (tentative).
Objective:
- Conduct scientific experiments.
- Promote international collaboration.
- Support space outreach activities.

Ax-4 Crew Members:

Peggy Whitson (Commander, USA)
Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot, India – First Indian to visit ISS)
Slawosz Uznanski (Poland)
Tibor Kapu (Hungary)

Reason for Delay:

First due to bad weather, then a technical issue (liquid oxygen leak in Falcon 9 rocket).
New launch date not announced yet.
Significance for India: Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984).

With reference to India’s first E-Waste Recycling Park in Holambi Kalan (Delhi), consider the following statements:
1. It can process 51,000 tonnes of e-waste per year.
2. It is being developed under a Public–Private Partnership model.
3. It covers all types of electronic waste specified under the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

Answer: A

Current Context: Delhi government has approved India’s first e-waste eco park in Holambi Kalan, North Delhi.

ABOUT E-WASTE ECO PARK

Location: Holambi Kalan, North Delhi (area: 11.4 acres).
Capacity: Can process 51,000 tonnes of e-waste per year.
Covers: All 106 types of electronic waste as per E-Waste Management Rules, 2022.
Investment: ₹150 crore (estimated); expected to generate ₹350+ crore in revenue.
PPP Model: Project will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership.
Need: India is the 3rd largest e-waste generator globally; Delhi contributes ~9.5% of total e-waste.

Assertion (A): India was fully import-dependent for asafoetida (Heeng) before its successful domestication in Palampur.
Reason (R): Heeng takes approximately five years to mature before resin harvesting.

(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true but R is false.
(D) A is false but R is true.

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context: CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur (Himachal Pradesh) reported the first flowering and seed formation of Heeng, showing its successful domestication in Indian soil.

About heeng (asafoetida)

What is Heeng?
- A spice and medicinal plant (Ferula assa-foetida) used widely in Indian cooking.
- Extracted as oleo-gum resin from the plant’s roots.
- Known for treating digestion, bloating, and abdominal pain in Ayurveda.
Native Regions:
- Cold deserts of Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia.
- Grows in low rainfall (below 300 mm) and cold, dry areas.
Suitable Indian Zones:
- Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Uttarkashi, and Palampur (HP).
- Takes 5 years to mature before resin harvesting.
Significance of Indian Cultivation:
- India was 100% import-dependent for Heeng (1,200 MT/year).
- Heeng Resource Centre (2022) established for scaling up cultivation.

With reference to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, consider the following statements:
1. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the reclining posture of Anantha Shayanam.
2. The recent Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after a gap of nearly 270 years.
3. King Marthanda Varma dedicated the temple to Lord Shiva in the 8th century CE.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1 and 3 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

Answer: A

Current Context : Recently, the ancient Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerela underwent its Maha Kumbhabhishekam (grand consecration) for the first time in nearly 270 years, following extensive restoration work.

About sree padmanabhaswamy temple

Location & Deity: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Anantha Padmanabha), in reclining Anantha Shayanam The city’s name derives from the deity.
Historical Origins: Records date back to the 8th–9th century CE, but origins are older. Major renovations by King Marthanda Varma, who in 1750 offered his kingdom to the deity.
Restoration & Rituals:
- Supreme Court-directed renovation (2017–2025) included sanctum roof, tanks, idol.
- Poojas with 100 golden pots and Ashtabandha Kalasam at the Thiruvambady shrine.
- Reinstallation of a 300-year-old Vishwaksena idol made of katu sarkara yogam.
- Dedication of three golden domes (thazhikakudams) atop the main shrine.
Architecture & Art:
- Blend of Kerala–Dravidian styles, with a seven-tiered gopuram, stone carvings, life-sized murals, murals of Vishnu, Gaja Lakshmi, Narasimha.
- 80-foot gold-plated copper flag post (dhwaja stamba).
Cultural & Scholarly Wealth:
- Repository of ~3 million palm-leaf manuscripts (Mathilakam records) from 14th century, detailing administration and finance of kingdom and temple. Only a fraction deciphered.
War Vault Riches: International attention after discovery of immense wealth in multiple vaults, earning its title as world’s richest temple.

The Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which of the following states?

(A) Karnataka
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Kerala
(D) Tamil Nadu

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context : The Maharashtra Forest Department has partnered with Microsoft and CYDA‑Pune for a year-long eco-restoration initiative in Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary to address biodiversity loss and improve socio-ecological conditions.

About Tamhini wildlife sanctuary

Location & Size: Western Ghats near Pune, spread across 49.62 km² from Paund, Sinhgad and Mangaon forest divisions.
Ecosystem: Evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forests; rich in biodiversity.
Flora: Teak, bamboo, Ain, Shisham, mango, jamun.
Fauna: Indian giant squirrel, barking deer, Indian pangolin, civet, wild boar.
Birds: Malabar whistling-thrush, crested serpent eagle, grey junglefowl, golden oriole, Indian pitta.

With reference to Thitu Island (Pag-asa), consider the following statements:
1. It is located in the Spratly Islands and is occupied by the Philippines.
2. The island hosts a civilian settlement, school, and military base.
3. China has established a radar surveillance station directly on Thitu Island.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1 and 3 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

Answer: A

Current Context : Recently, a Chinese fishing vessel ran aground during a storm in shallow waters near Thitu Island (Pag-asa Island) in the South China Sea near the Philippines-built Subi Reef, causing a maritime alert.

About Thitu Island

Thitu Island (Pag-asa): Philippine-occupied island in Spratly archipelago; civilian village, school, airstrip (Rancudo Airfield), coast guard and lighthouse in place. Area approx. 0.37 km².
Geopolitical Context:
- Claims by PRC, ROC, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei – Spratly Islands claimed by multiple countries.
- China has militarized nearby Subi Reef (~26 km away); US committed to Philippines defense treaty.
Incident Details: Ship, possibly Chinese militia-type, grounded ~2.7 km east of island due to bad weather.