Current Affairs Today 11th June 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 11th June 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. Every year the Coral Triangle Day is observed on June 9.
  2. State-run lenders Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Union Bank of India (UBI) have announced cut in their marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) across all tenors.
  3. Capital markets regulator Sebi imposed a total penalty of Rs 15 lakh on three entities for indulging in fraudulent trading in illiquid stock options on the BSE.
  4. The Reserve Bank of India recently released draft framework for “Sale of Loan Exposures” and “Securitization of Standard Assets”.
  5. The rating agency “S&P” has kept India’s sovereign rating at “BBB-” along with a stable outlook.
  6. The Finance Ministry announced that the public sector banks have disbursed Rs 12,200.65 crore till June 9, under the Rs 3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector, hit hard by the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
  7. The Forex Reserves of India are increasing and are to hit 500 billion USD soon. In May 2020, the Indian Forex Reserves touched an all time high of 493 billion USD.
  8. In order to eliminate the use of physical card or touch an ATM PIN pad, amid the spread of coronavirus from contaminated surfaces, Empays Payment Systems has joined hands with Mastercard to launch “Cardless ATM powered by MasterCard” in India based on the standards of EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa). With this, India will be the first country outside the United States (US) where this product will be launched.
  9. Government of India released Rs.6,195 crore to 14 states as a monthly installment of the post-devolution revenue deficit grant on 10 June.
  10. The Government of India has allocated Rs 4000 crore to the State Governments under under ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY- PDMC) for the year 2020-21.
  11. The Government of India has raised the Customs duty on bamboo imports from 10% to 25% with immediate effect.
  12. The central government on June 10 has decided to continue the export curbs only on the specific reagents, diagnostics kits, and instruments such as the silicon columns, swab sterile synthetic and magnetic stand amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
  13. Indian government’s ambitious Bharamala Project may get delayed by four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as per ratings agency ICRA.
  14. The central government on June 10 has decided to provide its health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to the migrant workers across the states, affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
  15. Government of India approved the Annual Action Plan of Madhya Pradesh for 2020-21.
  16. Kerala government on June 11 has decided to cancel this year’s Sabarimala annual festival and has indefinitely postponed the opening of the hill shrine due to COVID-19.
  17. Uttar Pradesh government has prepared an action plan to provide 10 lakh jobs in the next 6 months.
  18. Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur released the first video on Yoga Asanas in Ladakhi, in Leh. Ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21, the National Research Institute for Sowa Rigpa (NRISR), Leh has made a video on Yoga Asanas in Ladakhi language.
  19. Karnataka government has decided to ban online classes for the students up to 5th standard in the State.
  20. Haryana government will construct 1,000 water recharge bores in underground water deficient areas of the state to recharge underground water with rainfall.
  21. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a discussion with His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, PM of Israel over the telephone.
  22. The Sri Lankan parliamentary election has been finally decided for 5 August 2020.
  23. China’s unmanned submersible ‘Haidou-1’ has dived to a depth of 10, 907 meters at the world’s deepest ocean point.
  24. Asian Development Bank (ADB), a regional development bank has constituted a 8-member high-level panel of leading experts in economics, finance, and health, moderated by ADB Vice-President Ahmed M. Saeed, to help ministers, central bank governors, and other senior officials identify solutions for Southeast Asian economies to tap into to quickly recover after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
  25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural address at the 95th annual plenary session of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on June 11, 2020 through video conferencing.
  26. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on June 7 announced that Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra have topped an index that measured and ranked states ensuring food safety in 2019-20.
  27. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras is the best higher education institution in the country, according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework released by Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has bagged the second position and IIT Delhi is in the third position.
  28. PM Modi on Twitter announced about the increase in population of Asiatic Lions.
  29. Tata AutoComp Systems announced that it has tied up with US-based Tellus Power Green to set up electric vehicle charging stations in the country.
  30. Bharti Airtel’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Bharti International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.,(BISPL) directly and through its affiliate entities, has acquired an additional 6.3% stake in Robi Axiata Limited, Bangladesh from Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) Do Communications over the Mobile network(Docomo) Inc and its group entities for an undisclosed sum.
  31. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reconstituted a new committee for the welfare of the freedom fighters.
  32. Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) on Wednesday said it has appointed B K Manjunath as its non-executive and independent director.
  33. The Gargo International, the delhi based lubricant company under the RG group appoints Sonu Sood as the brand ambassador in January 2020 & praised him now for his support works for the migrants and went live with their TVC starring Sonu Sood. Sonu Sood is endorsing Adrol Lubricants, manufactured by Gargo International.
  34. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has banned Former European high jump champion, Alexander Shustov for 4-years for the use or attempted use of a banned substance or method (doping).
  35. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country which has completed the survey of all migrant labourers and started to provide jobs according to their skill.
  36. Former director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, Pritam Singh passed away.
  37. Television Actor Jagesh Mukati passed away due to breathing issues.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

Coral Triangle Day observed on 9th June

  • Every year the Coral Triangle Day is observed on June 9.
  • The Day is observed by the Coral Triangle Initiative

Highlights:

  • The Initiative is a multilateral partnership of six countries namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste.
  • The Coral Triangle Initiative is also called the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF).
  • It is a multilateral partnership of six countries that are working to sustain marine and coastal resources and address issued such as food security.
  • The Coral Triangle Day is not only celebrated in these six countries.
  • It is also celebrated in several other countries that are influenced by this region. It is an open source event that brings together organizations, individuals and establishments.

Coral Triangle

  • The Coral Triangle is the world epicentre of marine diversity that is spread across the above six countries. The region is important as it consists of 76% of coral species, 37% of coral reef fish and 53% of world coral reef. It is one of the three mega complexes on the earth.

BANKING & FINANCE 

Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India reduce MCLR across all tenors

  • State-run lenders Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Union Bank of India (UBI) have announced cut in their marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) across all tenors.

Highights:

  • While the Bank of Baroda’s MCLR cut of 15 basis points (bps) is effective from tomorrow, the 10 bps revision in Union Bank of India’s rates will come into force from today.
  • Bank of Baroda has revised its one-year MCLR to 7.65 per cent from 7.80 per cent. Its six-month MCLR has been revised downwards to 7.50 per cent from 7.65 per cent earlier.
  • Union Bank of India has reduced its one-year MCLR to 7.60 per cent from 7.70 per cent. The six months MCLR of UBI has been cut to 7.45 per cent.
  • Country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has reduced its MCLR by 25 basis points across all tenors from yesterday.
  • While private sector lender HDFC Bank has cut its MCLRs by 5 bps, state-run Bank of Maharashtra has reduced it by 20 basis points from June 8.

SEBI levies Rs 15 lakh fine on three entities for fraudulent trading activities

  • Capital markets regulator Sebi imposed a total penalty of Rs 15 lakh on three entities for indulging in fraudulent trading in illiquid stock options on the BSE.
  • The regulator has levied a fine of Rs 5 lakh each on B D Suppliers, Burlington Barter Pvt Ltd and Chunchun Ispat Pvt Ltd.
  • After observing large-scale reversal of trades in the illiquid stock options segment of the BSE, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) conducted a probe between April 2014 and September 2015.
  • The investigation showed that over 81 per cent of all the trades executed in the segment involved reversal of buy and sell positions by the clients and counter-parties that resulted in generation of artificial volumes.
  • After finding that the entities violated the provision of the PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices) norms, Sebi penalised them.

Extra Shots:

SEBI:

  • Founded: 12 April 1992
  • Sector: Securities market
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Type: Statutory corporation
  • Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi

RBI releases Framework for sale of Loan Exposure and Securitization of Standard Assets

  • The Reserve Bank of India recently released draft framework for “Sale of Loan Exposures” and “Securitization of Standard Assets”.
  • The guidelines issued are applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks.
  • This includes All India Financial Institutions such as EXIM Bank, NABARD, Non-Banking Financial Companies.
  • The guidelines have also included recommendations of Committee on Development of Housing Finance Securitization Market in India that was chaired by Dr Harsh Vardhan.
  • Also, the guidelines included the recommendations made by the Task Force set up on the Development of Secondary Market for Corporate Loans.
  • Both the Committee and the Task Force were set up by the Reserve Bank of India.

Key Features of the Guidelines

  • The Guidelines has proposed Two Capital Measurement approach. This includes Securitisation External Ratings based approchand Securitisation Standardised Approach.
  • Simple Transparent Comparable Securitisation has been prescribed to define preferential capital treatment.
  • The new guidelines allowed Securitisation of exposures that are purchased from other lenders
  • The Stressed Assets under the new guidelines shall be sold only through novation and assignment.

Extra Shots:

RBI:

  • Governor: Shaktikanta Das
  • Deputy Governor: NS Vishwanathan, BP Kanungo, MK Jain and Michael Debabrata Patra
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founder: British Raj
  • Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

S&P keeps India’s sovereign rating at “BBB-“

  • The rating agency “S&P” has kept India’s sovereign rating at “BBB-” along with a stable outlook.
  • The rating agency stated that the economy and fiscal position of India will stabilise and begin to improve from 2021 onwards.
  • While maintaining India’s stable outlook, the rating agency expects that India’s economy will revive following the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic, and will also maintain its sound net external position.

Extra Shots:

S&P Global Ratings:

  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
  • Parent organization: S&P Global
  • Founder: Henry Varnum Poor
  • Founded: 1860

PSBs disburse Rs 12,201 crore loan to MSMEs under emergency credit line scheme

  • The Finance Ministry announced that the public sector banks have disbursed Rs 12,200.65 crore till June 9, under the Rs 3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector, hit hard by the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
  • Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have sanctioned loans worth Rs 24,260.65 crore under the 100 per cent ECLGS for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector starting June 1.
  • The scheme is the biggest fiscal component of the Rs 20-lakh crore Self-Reliant India Mission package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month.
  • As of 9 June 2020, #PSBs have sanctioned loans worth Rs 24,260.65 crore under the 100% Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme, out of which Rs 12,200. 65 crore have been disbursed
  • Business units of Tamil Nadu have got highest cumulative sanction of Rs 2,637 crore from banks, while disbursement was to the tune of Rs 1,727 crore at the end of June 9.
  • It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with a sanction of Rs 2,547 crore, with disbursement of Rs 1,225 crore.
  • Market leader State Bank of India (SBI) has sanctioned Rs 13,363 crore, while disbursement was nearly half at Rs 7,517 crore at the end of June 9.
  • It is followed by third largest lender Bank of Baroda with a sanction of Rs 1,893 crore, but disbursement was at Rs 526 crore.
  • Union Bank of India had better disbursement rate as against sanction of Rs 1,842 crore, the Mumbai-based lender has disbursed Rs 794 crore.
  • The second largest lender Punjab National Bank was somewhat a laggard, as per the data, with the cumulative sanction of Rs 1,772 crore but the disbursement was nearly one-third at Rs 656 crore at the end of June 9.

Forex Reserves of India are rising

  • The Forex Reserves of India are increasing and are to hit 500 billion USD soon. In May 2020, the Indian Forex Reserves touched an all time high of 493 billion USD.
  • The Forex Reserves of India are increasing mainly due to fall in crude oil prices. Also, the rise is because of the increase in investment in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI).
  • The Forex Reserves are held by the GoI to maintain liquidity in the country. It also helps to absorb shocks where access to borrowing is curtailed. The Forex Reserves are an important component of Balance of Payment and also an essential element to analyze the external position of the economy.

Extra Shots:

Foreign Exchange Reserve

  • The Foreign Exchange Reserves are the reserve assets that are held by the central bank in foreign currencies. It is used to back the liabilities faced by a currency due to the influence of monetary policy.

Components of Foreign Reserves of India

The Foreign Exchange Reserve of India comprises of the following:

  • SDR (Special Drawing Rights) in International Monetary Fund. The SDR is the reserve Currency with IMF
  • Gold
  • RTP: RTP is Reserve Tranche Position in International Monetary Fund. It is the reserve capital with International Monetary Fund.

India becomes 2nd nation to have contact-free ATM cash withdrawals; Empays Payment Systems partners with MasterCard

  • In order to eliminate the use of physical card or touch an ATM PIN pad, amid the spread of coronavirus from contaminated surfaces, Empays Payment Systems has joined hands with Mastercard to launch “Cardless ATM powered by MasterCard” in India based on the standards of EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa). With this, India will be the first country outside the United States (US) where this product will be launched.
  • This cardless ATM (automated teller machine) will enable the users to withdraw their money just by scanning a (Quick Response) code on the mobile phone, using their banking app.
  • It should be noted that Empays is authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a national payment system.

Extra Shots:

MaterCard:

  • CEO: Ajaypal Singh Banga
  • Headquarters: Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States
  • Founded: 16 December 1966, United States
  • Founders: Wells Fargo, Crocker National Bank, First Interstate Bancorp, Bank of California

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Centre releasee Rs.6,195 crore to 14 states

  • Government of India released Rs.6,195 crore to 14 states as a monthly installment of the post-devolution revenue deficit grant on 10 June.
  • It is the third equated-monthly installment of the post-devolution revenue deficit grant as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.

Background:

  • On 3 April and 11 May, the Ministry of Finance released a similar amount as the first and second installment of the post-devolution revenue deficit grant to 14 states.
  • The states are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

GoI allocates Rs 4000 cr to State Governments under ‘PMKSY-PDMC’

  • The Government of India has allocated Rs 4000 crore to the State Governments under under ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY- PDMC) for the year 2020-21.
  • The annual allocation of the fund will be distributed to the beneficiaries identified by the State Governments.
  • The PMKSY-PDMC envisages to enhance water use efficiency at farm level with the application of Micro Irrigation technologies such as Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems.
  • Apart from water saving, the Drip micro irrigation technique also helps in reducing fertilizer usage, labour expenses and other input costs.
  • To expand the coverage of Micro Irrigation in the states, a Micro Irrigation Fund corpus of Rs 5000 crore has been created with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
  • It will also incentivise micro irrigation beyond the facilities available under PMKSY-PDMC to encourage farmers to install micro irrigation systems

GoI increases customs duty on bamboo from 10% to 25%

  • The Government of India has raised the Customs duty on bamboo imports from 10% to 25% with immediate effect.
  • The decision to increase the Customs duty on bamboo imports was taken to encourage the use of domestic bamboo under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
  • The newly decided customs duty will now be applicable uniformly to any import of bamboo, including by traders.
  • Government of India expects that the uniform rate will help in avoiding the misuse and rate-related disputes, and will also benefit the farmers as well as the MSME agarbatti manufacturers.

Govt allows export curbs only on specific diagnostics kits, instruments

  • The central government on June 10 has decided to continue the export curbs only on the specific reagents, diagnostics kits, and instruments such as the silicon columns, swab sterile synthetic and magnetic stand amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) released a notification stating that instruments, kits; reagents are freely exportable subject to the submission of an undertaking by the exporter to the customs authorities at the time of the export.
  • The restriction on certain products was imposed because of the growing COIVID-19 crisis.
  • Among the listed products, reagents are the substances or mixtures that are used in the chemical analysis.

Name of the products under restricted category:

  • RNA extraction Kits
  • VTM Kits
  • 15mn falcon tube
  • RT-PCR kits and reagents
  • Probes (specific for COVID-19 testing)
  • Reverse transcriptase enzymes

Bharatmala Project may get delayed by 4 years due to COVID-19: ICRA

  • Indian government’s ambitious Bharamala Project may get delayed by four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as per ratings agency ICRA.
  • The first phase of Bharatmala was supposed to be completed by 2021-22 but now it may only be completed by 2025-26 due to delays caused by nationwide lockdown to contain coronavirus pandemic.

Highlights

  • A total of 246 road projects with an aggregate length of about 10, 100 km were awarded under the Phase-I of Bharatmala till February 2020 at a cost of Rs 2.38 lakh crore.
  • The average cost of award stood at Rs 23.80 crore per km, which is 54 percent higher than the initial estimated cost of Rs 15.52 crore per km. The land acquisition cost for NHAI also increased at a CAGR of 27 percent from Rs 0.21 crore per hectare in FY2007 to around Rs 4 crore per hectare in FY2019.
  • A total length of around 34,800 km roads are being considered under BMP Phase-I, which also includes 10,000 km of balance road works under NHDP. The estimated outlay for Phase-I of the project was Rs 5.35 lakh crore, spread over five years between 2017-2022, as per the initial plan.
  • As per the revised funding plan that was drawn in September 2019, the dependence on market borrowings for the project increased substantially by 72 percent to Rs 3.59 lakh crore. On the other hand, the budgetary allocations and contribution from central road and infrastructure fund were reduced by 46 percent to Rs 1.83 lakh crore. Hence, the borrowings of NHAI are expected to increase significantly and peak by FY2023 or FY2024.
  • Till March 31, 2020, around 21 percent of the Bharatmala project execution was complete. Post-March, the pace of execution for FY2021 is expected to remain low due to productivity loss and availability of limited labour due to coronavirus outbreak.
  • The work is expected to later pick up pace by 10-15 percent in FY2022 before peaking in FY2024.
  • The pending works are expected to be completed by FY2026.

Migrants to get health insurance under Ayushman Bharat scheme

  • The central government on June 10 has decided to provide its health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to the migrant workers across the states, affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The decision has been taken to provide the healthcare insurance to the migrant workers, who lost their jobs and livelihoods during the nationwide lockdown, imposed to combat the pandemic.
  • The implementing agency of AB-PMJAY, National Health Authority (NHA) has been coordinating with the states in order to identify the eligible beneficiaries under the scheme. National Health Authority has also offered to issue e-cards to the eligible migrants.

Extra Shots:

AB-PMJAY:

  • It is a paperless and cashless scheme that provides health cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year, for the Secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crore poor families (about 53 crore beneficiaries).
  • All the beneficiaries can easily access their cards online anytime and anywhere.
  • The scheme is part of the government’s National Health Policy.
  • It aims at providing free health coverage at the secondary and tertiary level, to its bottom 40% vulnerable and poor population.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Centre approves Rs.1,280 crore for Madhya Pradesh to implement Jal Jeevan Mission during 2020-21

  • Government of India approved the Annual Action Plan of Madhya Pradesh for 2020-21.
  • The approval was decided at the National Committee chaired by Secretary, Drinking Water & Sanitation, and Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Highlights:

  • Government of India approved Rs.1,280 crore for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the State in 2020-21. The amount of Rs.244.95 crore and this year’s Central allocation and matching State share, Rs.3,093 crore will be available with the State 2020.
  • Madhya Pradesh has planned to have 100% Functional Household Tap Water Connection (FHTC) by 2023-24.
  • Out of 1.21 crore, rural households in the Madhya Pradesh State, 13.52 lakh households are already provided with tap connections.
  • The State also plans to provide tap connections to 26.27 lakh households in rural areas in 2020-21. While planning for universal coverage of households, priority is given to water-scarce areas, quality-affected areas, SC/ ST dominated habitations/ villages, aspirational districts, and Sansad Adarsh Gramin Yojana villages, particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

Jal Jeevan Mission:

  • Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with States. JJM aims to provide adequate drinking water of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis to every rural household of the country by 2024. JJM focusses on service delivery, not on infrastructure creation.
  • The Mission was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 Independence Day speech. The main objective is to bring improvement in the lives of rural people and to reduce the drudgery of rural women especially girls, this Mission expects to bring reforms in the drinking water sector. A budget of whopping Rs.3.60 lakh crore has been allocated for this transformational programme.

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

  • Capital: Bhopal
  • Chief Minister: Kamal Nath
  • Governor: Lalji Tandon
  • National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

Kerala government cancels Sabarimala Temple annual festival

  • Kerala government on June 11 has decided to cancel this year’s Sabarimala annual festival and has indefinitely postponed the opening of the hill shrine due to COVID-19.
  • The festival was scheduled to begin on June 19, 2020.
  • The decision was taken after the state government held a closed-door meeting with Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru and Travancore Devaswom Board officials in Thiruvananthapuram.
  • The temple was earlier scheduled to be open from June 14 for the monthly pujas.

Extra Shots:

Kerala:

  • Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
  • Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
  • Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan
  • Festivals: Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Nehru Trophy Boat Race
  • National Parks: Anamudi Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Periyar National Park,Silent Valley National Park
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Aralam WLS, Chimmony WLS, Idukki WLS, Periyar WLS, Wayanad WLS, Peppara WLS, Neyyar WLS, Kurinjimala WLS, Malabar WLS etc

UP govt prepares action plan to provide 10 lakh jobs in next six months

  • Uttar Pradesh government has prepared an action plan to provide 10 lakh jobs in the next 6 months.
  • Uttar Pradesh is among the states that has seen large reverse migration during the lockdown.
  • Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also directed district magistrates to generate 1 crore working days of MGNREGA daily from 15th of this month.
  • With the help of departmental convergence it is possible to generate 1 crore working days through MGNREGA which will help maximum number of migrant workers and labourers.
  • District magistrates have been asked to review and explore the avenues to generate employment through MGNREGA and send the report to the government within 3 working days.
  • UP CM also directed to commission TruNAT machines in all 75 districts by June 15 to ramp up Covid 19 testing facilities.
  • He also instructed the officials to maintain adequate arrangements in COVID and Non-COVID hospitals, directing the ministers concerned to have regular feedback from various medical institutes and district hospitals.

Extra Shots:

Uttar Pradesh:

  • Capital: Lucknow
  • Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
  • Governor: Anandiben Patel
  • State formed in: 24 January 1950
  • Literacy Rate: 67.68%
  • Nation Park: Dudhwa National Park

LG R K Mathur releases first video on Yoga Asanas in Ladakhi language

  • Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur released the first video on Yoga Asanas in Ladakhi, in Leh. Ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21, the National Research Institute for Sowa Rigpa (NRISR), Leh has made a video on Yoga Asanas in Ladakhi language.
  • It is the first video on yoga made in Ladakhi language based on the common yoga protocol of Ministry of Aayush.
  • The theme for this year’s International Yoga Day is “Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family.”
  • The objective is to generate awareness among the people of Ladakh on the importance of practicing yoga in daily life to ensure healthy mind and body.
  • This year the International Yoga Day was scheduled to be held in Ladakh but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had to be cancelled.
  • The Ministry of AAYUSH has decided to celebrate the day using digital platforms to discourage social gathering but with the same spirit and enthusiasm.

Karnataka govt to ban online classes for students up to class 5

  • Karnataka government has decided to ban online classes for the students up to 5th standard in the State.
  • Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S.Suresh Kumar said that online classes should be stopped immediately and it is banned throughout the State.
  • The Minister stressed that schools should not collect additional fees for the online classes. This decision was taken after a meeting with educationalist, psychologists and department officials.
  • The Minister also directed the schools not to hike school fees for the forthcoming academic year, since many parents have financial constrains due to covid-19.

Extra Shots:

Karnataka:

  • Capital: Bengaluru
  • Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
  • Governor: Vajubhai Vala
  • National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.

Haryana govt to construct 1,000 water recharge bores in water deficient areas of state

  • Haryana government will construct 1,000 water recharge bores in underground water deficient areas of the state to recharge underground water with rainfall.
  • 90 percent of the cost of the bore will be borne by the government and 10 percent by the farmers.
  • The government has launched Mera Pani, Meri Virasat Yojana under which 53,000 farmers have opted and registered for not sowing paddy in 58,421 hectare area.
  • They will opt for alternative crops and Rs 7,000 per hectare as a incentive will be given to these farmers.
  • 1000 rupees premium of the new crop and benefit of Bhavanter Bharpai Yojana will also be given. He said, under Atal Bhujal Yojana, 734 crore rupees will be spend in three years.

Extra Shots:

Haryana:

  • State formed on: 1 November 1966
  • Capital: Chandigarh
  • Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
  • Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
  • Official language: Hindi

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

PM Modi held discussion with PM of Israel to expand cooperation in context of COVID-19 pandemic

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a discussion with His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, PM of Israel over the telephone.
  • The leaders affirmed the partnership b between India and Israel.

Highlights:

  • PM Modi and His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the potential areas where the countries could expand their cooperation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, including research and development (R&D) efforts in the fields of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
  • The leaders agreed to maintain the ongoing exchanges between expert teams of both countries.
  • The leaders discussed the bilateral agenda. They agreed that the post-COVID-19 pandemic, the countries would create opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships in many areas.
  • The leaders also assessed scope to expand India-Israel collaboration in areas like health technology, agricultural innovation, defence-cooperation, and information technology.
  • They agreed to share assessments and consult each other on the emerging opportunities and challenges in the changing global scenario.

Extra Shots:

Israel (Capital/Currency): Jerusalem/ New shekel

  • President: Reuven Rivlin
  • Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Official languages: Hebrew

Sri Lanka to hold parliamentary elections on 5 August

  • The Sri Lankan parliamentary election has been finally decided for 5 August 2020.
  • The new date to conduct election comes after elections were postponed twice because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Highlights:

  • Sri Lanka’s parliament was dissolved on 2 March and parliamentary polls were initially to be held on 25 April. But it was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
  • The election commission then shifted the date to 20 June but it was canceled considering the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The commission held a mock poll in the 1st week of June at a polling station to test the COVID-19 health guidelines and its preparedness.
  • The guideline also stipulates conditions for campaigning including to avoid public gathering for more than 500 while using propaganda materials and media as the main medium for the campaign.

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Sri Lanka(Capitals/Currency): Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan rupee.

  • Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe
  • President: Maithripala Sirisena

China’s unmanned submersible ‘Haidou-1’ reaches world’s deepest ocean point

  • China’s unmanned submersible ‘Haidou-1’ has dived to a depth of 10, 907 meters at the world’s deepest ocean point.
  • Haidou-1 sets a new record for the country during which high-definition images of the geological environment and samples from the deep sea were collected.
  • The unmanned submersible set the record by submerging under the Pacific Ocean surface of the Mariana Trench which is the deepest area in the world.
  • The expedition team was from the Shenyang Institute of Automation and the Chinese Academic Sciences. The members of the team had left for the expedition on April 23, 2020, and returned to the northeast China Province of Liaoning on June 8, 2020.

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China (Capital/Currency): Beijing/Renminbi

  • President: Xi Jinping
  • Official Language: Mandarin

ADB forms 8-member panel to find solutions for speedy recovery of COVID-19 in Southeast Asia

  • Asian Development Bank (ADB), a regional development bank has constituted a 8-member high-level panel of leading experts in economics, finance, and health, moderated by ADB Vice-President Ahmed M. Saeed, to help ministers, central bank governors, and other senior officials identify solutions for Southeast Asian economies to tap into to quickly recover after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
  • The panel discussed measures taken by the various nations to address the Covid-19’s devastating health, social, economic, and financial impacts, and their medium- to long-term priorities.
  • They also discussed structural reforms, innovation in domestic resource mobilization & formula to make recovery sustainable.

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ADB: Asian Development Bank

  • Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
  • President: Masatsugu Asakawa
  • Membership: 68 countries

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

PM Modi’s address at 95th ICC session

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural address at the 95th annual plenary session of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on June 11, 2020 through video conferencing.
  • The Prime Minister began his address by highlighting that besides fighting coronavirus pandemic, India has other issues as well including flood, locusts, hailstorm, fire in an oil well, small earthquakes and two cyclones and we are fighting all these together.

RANKS AND INDICES

TN, Gujarat, Maharashtra top in Food Safety Index for 2019-20

  • Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on June 7 announced that Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra have topped an index that measured and ranked states ensuring food safety in 2019-20.
  • As per the FSSAI statement, the three states have topped in the list of larger states on the index.
  • While Goa came first followed by Meghalaya and Manipur in smaller states. Among the Union territories, Delhi, Chandigarh, and the Andaman Islands have secured the top ranks.
  • This was the second Index on food safety which was released by FSSAI on the occasion of World Food Safety Day along with the theme “Food Safety is Everyone’s Business”.
  • The theme was dedicated to those in the supply chain who ensured the uninterrupted availability of safe food during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • FSSAI shared the ranking of the State Food Safety Index on its twitter account and mentioned the top states and UTs in the area of food safety.

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FASSI:

  • Founded: August 2011
  • Sector: Food safety
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Agency executive: Rita Teaotia (Chairperson)
  • Parent agency: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India

HRD Minister releases NIRF ranking; IIT Madras tops the overall list

  • Indian Institute of Technology, Madras is the best higher education institution in the country, according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework released by Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has bagged the second position and IIT Delhi is in the third position.
  • Miranda House has been chosen as the best college, followed by Lady Shri Ram and Hindu College.
  • IISc, Bangalore has topped universities category in the rankings, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University and Benares Hindu University.

Asiatic Lion population increased

  • PM Modi on Twitter announced about the increase in population of Asiatic Lions.

Highlights:

  • The Asiatic Lion population has increased by 29%. It was 523 in 2015 and has increased to 674 in 2020. India has recorded 36% increase in distribution area of lions. It was 22,000 square kilo metres in 2015In 2020, the spread increased to 30,000 square kilo metres. The Asiatic Lions are currently in the protected areas of agro-pastoral landscape of Saurashtra, Gujarat.

The Asiatic Lion population increased steadily due to the following reasons Community Participation Emphasis on Technology

  • Proper Habitat Management
  • Wildlife Healthcare
  • Steps that minimize human-lion conflicts

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Asiatic Lions

  • The Asiatic Lion is listed under Endangered in IUCN red list. This is mainly because of their small population size and area of occupancy. The Asiatic Lions are found in western and middle Asia. In India there were found in the region between the Indus river in the west, till Bengal in the east and till Narmada river in the south. Today they are restricted to Gir Forest National Park.
  • In India, the Asiatic Lions are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

Tata AutoComp joins hands with US firm to set up charging stations for electric vehicles

  • Tata AutoComp Systems announced that it has tied up with US-based Tellus Power Green to set up electric vehicle charging stations in the country.
  • The auto component firm said it has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tellus Power to supply AC and DC fast chargers for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger and commercial vehicles.
  • As part of Tata Group initiative, the company has been planning a significant play in providing systems and components for electric vehicles, as well as provide enabling systems for establishing charging infrastructure
  • Tata AutoComp and Tellus will now provide various AC chargers from 3 kW to 11 kW size for home and residential complexes as well as DC fast chargers from 20 kW to 300 kW to meet the needs to charge various types of vehicles in public places such as office and commercial parking lots.

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Tata AutoComp

  • A part of Tata Group, Tata AutoComp provides products and services to Indian and global automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as tier 1 suppliers.
  • The company has 36 manufacturing facilities spread across India and nine facilities spread across North America, Latin America, Europe and China.

ACQUISITION & MERGER

Bharti International (Singapore) buys additional 6.3% stake in Robi Axiata from NTT Docomo

  • Bharti Airtel’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Bharti International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.,(BISPL) directly and through its affiliate entities, has acquired an additional 6.3% stake in Robi Axiata Limited, Bangladesh from Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) Do Communications over the Mobile network(Docomo) Inc and its group entities for an undisclosed sum.
  • This all-cash deal will raise the BISPL’s stake in Robi Axiata to 31.3% from 25% & has been approved by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
  • The acquisition of Robi Axiata’s ordinary shares from Docomo is done at mutually-agreed valuation which is non-material and is not disclosed due to privacy reasons.

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Bharti Airtel

  • CEO: Gopal Vittal
  • Founder: Sunil Bharti Mittal
  • Founded: 7 July 1995, India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Parent organizations: Bharti Enterprises (64%), Singapore Telecommunications Limited (36%)

RECENT COMMITTEES IN NEWS

MHA reconstituted a new committee for the welfare of freedom fighters

  • Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reconstituted a new committee for the welfare of the freedom fighters.
  • This committee chaired by the minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy and 9 other “eminent freedom fighters” from across the country.
  • The ministry features a separate division to serve freedom fighters who are alive and their families.
  • It disburses pension to about 30,000 freedom fighters and their families. Besides Reddy, former Congress MLA from Gujarat Dinakar Bhai Desai, who took part within the 1942 Quit India movement, is among those a part of the panel.
  • The new panel may verify if one person has given affidavits to 2 or more applicants and can examine the stress to create memorials and museums for freedom fighters.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs or Home Ministry is a ministry of the Government of India. As the interior ministry of India, it is mainly responsible for the maintenance of internal security and domestic policy. The Home Ministry is headed by Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah.

  • Ministry executive: Ajay Kumar Bhalla, IAS, Home Secretary
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Founded: 15 August 1947
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Officeholders: Rajnath Singh (Minister), Amit Shah (Minister), etc
  • Departments: Intelligence Bureau, Department of Home, etc

APPOINTMENT IN NEWS

Lakshmi Vilas Bank appoints B K Manjunath as non-exec, independent director

  • Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) on Wednesday said it has appointed B K Manjunath as its non-executive and independent director.
  • Manjunath has been classified as non-executive and independent director
  • Manjunath is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and practising as a chartered accountant.
  • He has an experience of over 30 years in audit, accountancy, taxation, finance, business management and administration.
  • He had also served as an independent director of the bank between 2008 and 2015, and as its part-time chairman during the June 2017-June 2020 period.

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Lakshmi Vilas Bank

  • Headquarters: Chennai
  • Founders: G B C Muthuveera Chettiar, T Sundararajulu Chettiar, etc

Sonu Sood becomes the brand ambassador of Gargo International

  • The Gargo International, the delhi based lubricant company under the RG group appoints Sonu Sood as the brand ambassador in January 2020 & praised him now for his support works for the migrants and went live with their TVC starring Sonu Sood. Sonu Sood is endorsing Adrol Lubricants, manufactured by Gargo International.

His work during Lockdown:

  • In the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic he supported the migrant workers going back to their home town from Mumbai through the “Ghar Bhejo” by LBTrust, Neeti Goel and KhaanaChahiye initiative which raised around Rs.57 lakhs.
  • He offered his Juhu hotel to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to use as a quarantine facility and to all the healthcare workers like doctors, nurses, paramedics, etc.
  • He is providing daily food for more than 45,000 needy through the “Shakti Annadanam” food drive named after his father Shakti Sagar Sood.
  • He arranged an Air Asia flight to send around 180 migrants back to Assam from Mumbai and a flight for 177 workers of Odisha from Kerala.

SPORT CURRENT AFFAIRS

Alexander Shustov of Russia gets 4-year ban for doping

  • The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has banned Former European high jump champion, Alexander Shustov for 4-years for the use or attempted use of a banned substance or method (doping).
  • He won the gold medal at the European championships in 2010.
  • His ban was dated from June 5, and his results were disqualified for a period from 2013 to 2017.

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Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/ Russian Ruble

  • President: Vladimir Putin
  • Official Languages: Russian

WEBPORTALS & APPS IN NEWS

‘Rozgar Setu Portal’ inaugurated in MP to provide work to migrant labourers

  • Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country which has completed the survey of all migrant labourers and started to provide jobs according to their skill.
  • Inaugurating the unique ‘Rozgar Setu Portal’ , Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the Madhya Pradesh government is committed to provide work to the migrant labourers according to their skills and efficiency.
  • All migrant labourers as well as employers have been registered on the Rozgar Setu portal.
  • As per the official information, 7 lakh 30 thousand migrant labourers and 5 lakh 79 thousand members of their families have been registered on the portal.
  • Similarly, 5 thousand 246 employment providers have also been registered on the portal.
  • On the very first day of the inauguration of the portal, 79 labourers got employment as per their skills.
  • The Rozgar Setu Portal is an online employment fair.
  • While on the one hand all the labourers are registered on the portal, on the other hand, different employers are registered.
  • Employers can select labourers as per their requirements.
  • The labourers can also get their appointment letter through the portal.

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Madhya Pradesh:

  • Capital: Bhopal
  • Chief Minister: Kamal Nath
  • Governor: Lalji Tandon
  • National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

OBITUARY

Padma Shri awardee Pritam Singh passes away

  • Former director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, Pritam Singh passed away.
  • He chaired the subcommittee on Institutional Management and Leadership Development in Higher Education by the 12th Planning Commission for the 5-year plan (2012-2017).
  • He was a member of the Ministry of Home Affairs Committee for capacity building of IPS officers.

Television Actor Jagesh Mukati passes away