1) Nek Chand Saini, who passed away on 12 June 2015 at the age of 90, was the creator of which iconic creation in Chandigarh? – Rock Garden
Explanation: Nek Chand Saini was known all over the world for his unique creation in Chandigarh, the Rock Garden. This sculpture garden was created from waste and other unused household materials. As a govt. employee he started creating the garden in his spare time in 1957. He used waste and useless articles like old switches, tyres, bicycle parts, bangles, mosaic, etc. from demolition sites around the city. He recycled these materials into his own vision around a gorge near the famous Sukhna Laka. It is worth mentioning that Nek Chand’s work was illegal and he was able to hide it for eighteen years before it was discovered by the authorities in 1975. After pressure from citizen groups to continue the park, the Rock Garden was opened officially in 1976. He was assigned some 50 labourers to extend the park. And now Rock Garden is spread over 40-acre area and has attracted almost 1.2 crore visitors since it was opened. Nek Chand passed away following complaint of chest pain at PGIMER, Chandigarh. He was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India in 1984.
2) Which African country is on its way to legally end its virtually worthless local currency which has witnessed hyper-inflation as high as 500 billion per cent in the recent times? – Zimbabwe
Explanation: Zimbabwe has decided to end the local currency (Zimbabwean Dollar) by September 2015. This process starts from 15 June 2015 bank accounts with balances of up to 175 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars to be paid just US$ 5 in the exchange. This is due to the fact that the Zimbabwean dollar has become almost worthless. It is worth mentioning that at the height of Zimbabwe’s economic crisis in 2008, Zimbabweans had to carry plastic bags bulging with bank notes to buy basic goods like bread and milk. Prices were rising at least twice a day. According to the Reserve Bank Zimbabwe (RBZ), the customers who held Zimbabwean dollar accounts before March 2009 can approach their banks to convert their Zimbabwean dollar balance into dollars. The process will legally end the local currency. Zimbabweans have until September 2015 to turn in their old bank notes. Customers who still have stashes of old Zimbabwean dollar notes can walk into any bank and get $1 for every 250 trillion they hold.
3) The second “Border Haat”, the common border market between India and Bangladesh, was opened on 11 June 2015. These Border Haats have been established at which Indian state bordering Bangladesh? – Tripura
Explanation: The first “Border Haat” was opened near the Indo-Bangladesh international border at Srinagar in South Tripura district on 13 January 2015. This place borders Madhugram village of Feni district of Bangladesh. The concept of establishing “Border Haat” is to boost bilateral trade and enhance people to people contacts. These markets are set up at the zero line of the international border with one part on the Indian side and the other in Bangladesh. Second such “Border Haat” was inaugurated on 11 June at Kamalasagar in Sipahijala district, bordering Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh. It was officially jointly inaugurated by video-conferencing from Dhaka on 6 June 2015 by Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
4) The US government has recently opened an investigation against two of the biggest Indian outsourcing companies, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys, for possible violations of H1-B visa rules. The possible visa rule violations of TCS and Infosys with regard to which US-based electric utility are being probed by the authorities? – Southern California Edison
Explanation: TCS and Infosys are being probed for possible violations of rules for visas for foreign technology workers under contracts they held with Southern California Edison. Southern California Edison had recently laid-off more than 500 technology workers, many of who claimed that they were made to train their replacements who were immigrants on the temporary work visas brought in by the Indian firms. Senators Richard Durbin of Illinois and Jeff Sessions of Alabama announced the investigation after they were notified by the US Labor Department. Indian outsourcers are among the biggest recipients H1-B visas, which are intended for highly skilled workers. TCS and Infosys derive their biggest share of revenues from US markets.
5) Which former fast-bowler of West Indies was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on 11 June 2015? – Wesley Hall
Explanation: With Wesley Hall’s induction into this elite league, the tally of cricketers from the Caribbean in the Hall of Fame rose to 18 while overall tally stood at 80. Hall received his commemorative cap from fellow ICC Cricket Hall of Famer, Courtney Walsh, during the lunch break on the opening day of the second Test between the West Indies and Australia at the Sabina Park on 11 June. Hall played in 48 Tests from 1958 to 1969 in which he took 192 wickets, including five wickets in an innings nine times and 10 wickets in a match on one occasion. In 170 first-class matches, Hall claimed 546 wickets at an average of 26.14. In 1964-65, his 16 wickets were instrumental in guiding the West Indies to its first series win over Australia. Hall is the fourth cricketer this year to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame after Betty Wilson, Anil Kumble and Martin Crowe, who were inducted earlier this year during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
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