Daily Current Affairs Quiz: June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

World Asteroid Day is observed every year on:

(A) 20 June
(B) 30 June
(C) 10 July
(D) 15 May

Show Answer

Answer: B

Observed on 30 June

Aim : to promote awareness about asteroids and planetary defense.

About the Day

Marks the anniversary of the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia—the most harmful known asteroid impact in recent history.
Adopted by the United Nations to educate the public about asteroid hazards and science.

Which of the following statements about Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is/are correct?
1. It is held in the month of Chaitra in Odisha.
2. The chariots carry Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
3. The deities return journey is called "Bahuda Yatra".
Select the correct answer using the code below:

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) All of the above

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm greetings on June 27, 2025, as millions of devotees thronged Puri for the sacred Rath Yatra procession .

ABOUT RATH YATRA (CHARIOT FESTIVAL)

Where & When: Held annually in Puri, Odisha, during Ashadha month (June–July).
Significance: Marks the ceremonial journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, to the Gundicha Temple via massive wooden chariots.
Duration: Festival lasts 1 week; deities return in the “Bahuda Yatra.”
Devotee Participation: Millions pull the chariots—this public act is considered highly auspicious.
Cultural Impact: Reinforces spiritual harmony, Odisha’s cultural heritage, and unity among diverse communities.

With reference to the Adi Karmyogi Programme, consider the following statements:
1. It is launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
2. The programme aims to cover 2 million stakeholders across 1 lakh tribal villages.
3. It includes a mentorship and multi-department coordination approach.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Show Answer

Answer: C

Current Context: Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the “Adi Karmyogi” mobile initiative to train tribal-affairs field officers for enhanced grassroots governance.

About Adi karmyogi Programme

Goal: Build a motivated cadre of citizen-centric officials for tribal development.
Scale:
180+ State-level master trainers,
3,000 district trainers,
15,000 block-level trainers,
Aim : to reach 2 million stakeholders and 100,000 tribal villages.
Approach: Emphasis on attitude change, multi-department coordination, and mentorship for inclusive tribal welfare.

SPREE Scheme recently revived by ESIC aims to:

(A) Provide pension benefits to unorganised workers.
(B) Promote registration of unregistered employers and employees under ESI Act.
(C) Expand coverage of the National Pension Scheme.
(D) Offer cashless medical insurance to rural women.

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context: At its 196^th meeting, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) approved the revival of the SPREE scheme from July to December 2025 to broaden employer and employee registration .

ABOUT SPREE SCHEME

Full name: Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers and Employees.
First introduced in 2016, it successfully registered 88,000+ employers and 2 million (1.02 crore) employees under the ESI Act
Renewed Version (2025):
Open window from July 1 to Dec 31, 2025.
Objective: Expand ESI coverage by enrolling:
Unregistered employers,
Left-out employees (including contractual and temporary staff).
Coverage Mode: Upon registration, coverage applies from the date of registration or self-declaration for employers, and from registration date for employees

Why did India refuse to sign the SCO joint statement at Qingdao in June 2025?

(A) It did not include climate change issues.
(B) It lacked reference to recent terror attacks, including the Pahalgam incident.
(C) India was not in favour of Belarus’ membership.
(D) India was demanding permanent secretariat in Delhi.

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context: On June 26, 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, India refused to endorse the joint statement due to omitted terrorism references—primarily the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—blocked by “one particular country”.

ABOUT SCO SITUATION

Issue: India insisted on acknowledging terrorism (especially Pahalgam attack) in the joint communique. China, Pakistan, and another member opposed this, resulting in a lack of consensus.
India’s Stand: Emphasized “One Earth, One Family, One Future” civilizational ethos, calling for explicit terrorist references and accountability for state-sponsored support.

About SCO

A political, economic, security union of 10 Eurasian countries: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and the central Asian states.
Established in 2001 (originating from the “Shanghai Five” in 1996), expanded to full membership in 2017; Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
Represents ~42% of the world’s population, ~24% of global landmass, and ~23% of world nominal GDP.

Consider the following about GAVI:
.1. It is headquartered in Geneva and works to expand vaccine access in low-income countries.
2. Its core partners include WHO, UNICEF, and World Bank.
3. India recently withdrew from the alliance citing vaccine policy differences.
Which of the above is/are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) All of the above

Show Answer

Answer: A

Current Context: In late June 2025, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced halting US funding to Gavi, citing vaccine safety concerns and alleged suppression of alternative viewpoints during COVID-19.

About Gavi?

A public–private global health partnership established in 2000, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Core partners include WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, Gates Foundation, governments, NGOs, vaccine manufacturers, and civil society .
Mission: Enhance equitable, sustainable vaccine access in low‑income countries.

Impact & Achievements

Over 1 billion children vaccinated since inception .
8 million+ future deaths prevented .
Covered 78 low-income countries, halving child mortality in those nations

Which of the following correctly describes the GIFT City’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)?
1. It is India's second operational greenfield smart city.
2. It is governed by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
3. It focuses exclusively on retail banking and microfinance operations.
4. It offers 100% tax exemption for up to 10 years.
Select the correct answer using the code below:

(A) 1 and 3 only
(B) 2 and 4 only
(C) 1, 2, and 3 only
(D) 2, 3, and 4 only

Show Answer

Answer: B

Current Context: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed progress at GIFT City’s IFSC, urging swift reforms to enhance global competitiveness and attract foreign capital via regulated channels.

ABOUT GIFT City – IFSC

A Special Economic Zone launched in April 2015 in Gandhinagar–Ahmedabad, Gujarat; India’s first operational greenfield smart city and international financial services centre.
Governed by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), established under the IFSC Act, 2019; a unified regulator for financial institutions and products.
Focus Areas: Banking, capital markets, insurance, asset/fund management, fintech, international bullion exchange, aircraft & ship leasing.
Tax Incentives: 100% tax exemptions for up to 10 years, relaxed regulations for fund transfers, and SEZ-specific duty breaks.
Achievements: Over 700 firms (including PSUs, banks, multinationals) onboarded; ranked 46th in Global Financial Centres Index, 40th in fintech, top in reputational advantage (GFCI‑37, 2025).

What is/are the objectives of establishing Green Data Centres in India?
1. To promote sustainable IT infrastructure with minimal environmental impact.
2. To transition to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
3. To enhance national capacity for border security operations.
Select the correct answer:

(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: UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone for a ₹1,000 crore “Green Data Centre” in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad – a 30 MW Tier-III facility built by Central Electronics Ltd in partnership with ESDS.

ABOUT THE GREEN DATA CENTRE

Public–Private Partnership between CEL (Mini-Ratna PSU under CSIR, Ministry of Science & Technology) and ESDS.
Designed to Tier-III standards: 200 high-density racks per floor, dual 10 Gbps links, sustainable features (rainwater harvesting, smart cooling, reflective roofing).
Emphasises renewables: aligns with UP target of 20,000 MW renewable generation by 2027; first green data centre in Uttar Pradesh.

What Is a Green Data Centre?

A Green Data Centre is a data facility designed with energy-efficient technologies and environment-friendly practicesto minimize environmental impact while maintaining high performance and reliability.

Key features include:

Efficient construction: optimized airflow, use of sustainable materials, and green building design.
Advanced cooling systems: free-air, liquid immersion, hot/cold aisle containment.
Renewable energy: solar, wind, hydro; onsite or through green energy procurement.
Heat reuse: capturing and reusing waste heat for heating or other purposes.
Virtualization & hardware efficiency: reduce physical servers to save power