June 30-2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

• Three Hoysala-era temples in Karnataka recently made it to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, under the collective entry of ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas’.
• The three temples include the Chennakeshava temple in Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu, and the Keshava Temple in Somanathapura.

Statement 1 is correct

• Hoysala architecture is the building style of Hindu temples developed under the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries in Karnataka.
• Hoysala architecture is influenced by the Western Chalukya architecture and is part of the Karnataka Dravida tradition of temple architecture in the Deccan.
• Hoysala temples are known for their detailed carvings on soapstone (a malleable stone that is easy to carve), which cover almost all the surfaces of the walls, pillars, and ceilings.
• Hoysala temples have a distinctive star-shaped plan, with multiple shrines arranged around a central hall or mantapa.

Statement 2 is correct

• Hoysala temples feature sculptures of deities, mythological scenes, animals, birds, dancers, musicians, and floral motifs.
• The sculptures reflect the religious diversity of the Hoysala empire, as they include Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist themes.

Statement 3 is not correct

• The Chennakeshava temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, was consecrated around 1117 AD by the mighty Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, to mark his victories against the Cholas.
• The other Vaishnava shrine, the Kesava temple, was built in Somanathapura around 1260 by Somanatha, a general of Hoysala King Narasimha III.
• The Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu is believed to be the largest Shiva temple built by the Hoysalas, and is dated to the 12th century.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is not correct

• It retained the minimum age for criminal responsibility from seven years and extended to 12 years, depending upon the maturity of the accused.
• This contravenes recommendations of international conventions.
• In 2007, a UN Committee recommended that countries set the age of criminal responsibility to above 12 years.

Statement 2 is correct

• The BNS removes the offence of sedition. It instead penalises the following: (i) exciting or attempting to excite secession, armed rebellion, or subversive activities, (ii) encouraging feelings of separatist activities, or (iii) endangering the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India.
• These offences may involve exchange of words or signs, electronic communication, or use of financial means.
• Any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment that may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to a fine.

Statement 3 is correct

• BNS introduces new provisions that criminalise acts of terrorism and organised crime, which were not covered under the IPC.
• The BNS defines terrorism as an act that intends to: (i) threaten the unity, integrity, and security of the country, (ii) intimidate the general public, or (iii) disturb public order.
• Organised crime was not included in IPC.
• A separate category of “petty organised crime” has also been brought in (theft, snatching, cheating, selling off public examination question papers, etc.).
  • Organised crime includes offences such as kidnapping, extortion, contract killing, land grabbing, financial scams, and cybercrime carried out on behalf of a crime syndicate.

Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Pair 1 is correct

• Rajatarangini, or “The River of Kings,” is a mythological and historical chronicle that illuminates the histories of Kashmir and North-West India.
• Written in the 12th century CE by the Kashmiri Brahmana Kalhana, whose father, Champaka, served as a minister in the court of Harsha in Kashmir.
• This historical record is divided into eight sections known as Tarangas (waves).

Pair 2 is correct

• It is the name of a text dealing with ethics and ethical values (nītiśāstra), attributed to Somadeva Suri.

Pair 3 is correct

• Vishakhadatta authored “Devichandragupta,” focusing on an event during the reign of the Gupta king Ramagupta. He is also renowned for “Mudrarakshasa,” which revolves around the cunning strategies of Chanakya.

Pair 4 is not correct

• The Sanskrit play written by Kalidasa in the 5th century CE narrates the love story of King Agnimitra, the Shunga Emperor of Vidisha.
• The Chaurisurata Panchashika, also rendered the Chaura Panchashika, is a Sanskrit work of poetry by Bilhana, composed in the 11th century

Answer: (c) Only three; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• It is the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
• Led by the US Navy, 29 countries are participating in the current edition.
• It will help ensure the safety of sea lanes and the security of the world’s oceans.

Statement 2 is correct

• RIMPAC-24 contains intense operations and training to enhance interoperability and build trust among the navies of friendly foreign countries.
• The exercise will involve an aircraft carrier battle group, submarines, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and remotely piloted surface ships.

Statement 3 is correct

• Indian multi-role stealth frigate INS Shivalik has reached Pearl Harbour in Hawaii to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.
• INS Shivalik is the first indigenously designed and built 6000 tonnes guided missile stealth frigate.
• It was built at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
• It is deployed in the South China Sea and the North Pacific Ocean.

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Perseverance Rover is a NASA mission

• Perseverance, nicknamed Percy, is a car-sized Mars rover designed to explore the Jezero crater on Mars as part of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission.

Hope is U.A.E a mission

• The Hope Mars Mission, also called the Emirates Mars Mission, is the first uncrewed, interplanetary satellite spearheaded by the U.A.E.

InSight is NASA a mission

• The InSight mission (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport) was a robotic lander launched by NASA in 2018.
• It was designed to study Mars’ seismic activity, core, and crust to understand its evolutionary history.

Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) is a JAXA mission

• A Japanese (JAXA) mission to travel to Mars and survey the Red Planet’s two moons, Phobos and Deimos.

Answer: (b) Only two: Medium