Current Affairs Today 16th June 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 16th June 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is marked every year on 15 June to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
  2. International Day of Family Remittances is observed on 16th June every year.
  3. This year’s International Yoga Day on 21st of June, will be celebrated on digital media platforms and there would be no mass gatherings.
  4. ICICI Bank has introduced an online overdraft(od) facility ‘Insta FlexiCash’ for its salary account customers.
  5. Airtel Payments Bank has launched ‘Suraksha Salary Account’ for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
  6. A webinar was organized by the TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India).
  7. The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) in an e-ceremony on 15 June.
  8. Government of India has taken special measures to benefit the welfare scheme for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) amidst the prevailing unprecedented situation faced by the society due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  9. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Personnel, PG and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the Feedback Call Centres on Public Grievances on 15 June.
  10. India and 12 other countries have come together to lead United Nations initiative ‘#VERIFIED’, which aims to counter misinformation on the coronavirus by spreading fact-based content.
  11. A device named “GermiBAN” has been launched by the Union Minister of State for Home affairs G. Kishan Reddy.
  12. “e-Office” application has been launched in over 500 CGST and Customs offices across India by the Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), M. Ajit Kumar.
  13. Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a “Multi Location Claim Settlement” facility.
  14. The central government, as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, has distributed indigenous ventilators to hospitals across the country in order to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
  15. Uttar Pradesh has become the top state in the country to provide employment to the workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme MGNREGA.
  16. In Gujarat, various events are being organised by the State Yog Board through different social media platforms as part of the International Yoga Day celebrations.
  17. A state-wide 10-day long special campaign will be launched in Rajasthan to create awareness about COVID-19.
  18. Delhi Government has instructed its Public Works Department to install CCTV cameras in COVID-19 wards of all its Corona virus designated hospitals.
  19. Raja Parba, Odisha’s three-day unique festival celebrating the onset of monsoon and the earth’s womanhood has begun.
  20. HIL (India) Limited, a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has supplied 25MT Malathion 95% Ultra-low volume (ULV) to Iran under Government-to-Government initiative for Locust Control Programme.
  21. Former NASA astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan, who became the first American woman to walk in space, has now created another record to become the first woman to reach the deepest point in the ocean.
  22. The NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) scientists in the International Space Station7 unveiled the first results of Bose-Einstein condensate experiments under which the particles can be manipulated free from Earthly constraints.
  23. The External Affairs Minister of India Shri S Jai Shankar is to hold a joint virtual conference with his Russian and Chinese Counterparts on June 22,2020.
  24. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development released its World Investment Report, 2020.
  25. The Swedish think-tank launched the SIPRI Yearbook, 2020.
  26. India joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI or Gee-Pay) as a founding member to support responsible and human-centric development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  27. Desperate to restart the economy which has taken a hit by Coronavirus pandemic, the Maharashtra Government has signed Memorandum of Undertaking worth 16,000 crore rupees with companies spanning various industries, including two Chinese units, under its Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 initiative.
  28. India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve infrastructure of the Pashupatinath temple complex.
  29. Chef Angad Singh Rana has won QualityNZ Culinary Cup 2020.
  30. The current Attorney General of India, K. K. Venugopal, is all set to get one-year extension, after he accepted the government’s request to serve as the top law officer of the country for one more year.
  31. Private sector lender HDFC Bank said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Kaizad Bharucha as the executive director of the bank for a period of three years with effect from 13 June.
  32. Middle distance runner Gomathi Marimuthu, has been banned for four years and stripped off her 2019 Asian Championships gold medal by the Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU), until May 2023 for doping charges.
  33. India has joined as a founding member and launched the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI or Gee-Pay).
  34. The Indian Council of Medical Research recommended the use of Rapid Antigen test kits along with RT-PCR in containment zones.
  35. Historian Dinyar Patel’s biography of Dadabhai Naoroji, “Naoroji Pioneer of Indian Nationalism” was published by the Harvard University Press in May 2020.
  36. Former New Zealand Test cricketer, Matt Poore passed away.
  37. Former Lok Sabha MP and founder of Janalaxmi Cooperative Bank, Madhavrao Patil passed away.
  38. Noted folk singer of Uttarakhand, Heera Singh Rana passed away.
  39. Senior journalist and freedom fighter from Maharashtra, Dinu Randive passed away at his residence in Dadar, Mumbai this morning due to old age.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day observed on 15th June

  • World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is marked every year on 15 June to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
  • Theme: The theme in 2020 for WEAAD is “Lifting Up Voices”.
  • The day was launched on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations (UN).
  • WEAAD was officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011.

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UN:

  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
  • Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
  • Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish;
  • Secretary general: António Guterres

International Day of Family Remittances observed on 16th  June

  • International Day of Family Remittances is observed on 16th June every year.
  • The day recognizes the contribution of over 200 million migrants to improve the lives of their 800 million family members back home and to create a future of hope for their children.

Theme:

  • This year International Day of Family Remittances is celebrated under the theme: “Building resilience in times of crisis”

Objective:

  • Through the observance of IDFR, the United Nations (UN) seeks to create greater awareness about impact remittances have on millions of households, as well as on communities, countries, and entire regions.
  • IDFR also calls upon governments, private sector entities, and civil society, to find ways that can maximize the impact of contributions made in the form of remittances by individuals and collective actions.

International Yoga Day to celebrated on digital media platforms

  • This year’s International Yoga Day on 21st of June, will be celebrated on digital media platforms and there would be no mass gatherings.
  • Theme: This year’s theme is ‘Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family’.
  • Ministry of Ayush has also appealed to the people to join the world for the Yoga performance on the occasion of 6th International Day of Yoga on 21st June at 7:00 AM from their homes.
  • People should prepare for the Yoga performance according to Common Yoga Protocol (CYP).
  • Ministry of AYUSH in association with Prasar Bharati is also organizing a daily telecast of the Common Yoga Protocol on DD Bharati.
  • The Protocol sessions are being telecast daily in the morning from 8 AM to 8:30 AM. The half an hour session will cover all the major aspects of the Common Yoga Protocol.

BANKING & FINANCE

ICICI Bank introduces ‘Insta FlexiCash’ for salary account customers

  • ICICI Bank has introduced an online overdraft(od) facility ‘Insta FlexiCash’ for its salary account customers.
  • The end-to-end fully digital facility is often accessed with no documentation, using the Bank’s internet banking platform without visiting a bank branch.
  • This facility is meant to guard ICICI Bank Salary Account customers against missing their Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) or cheque bounces thanks to insufficient funds by providing short-term instant credit.
  • Customers can easily avail of this facility by initiating their application online.

‘Insta FlexiCash’:

  • Insta Flexicash is an end-to-end fully digital facility which may be availed using the bank’s Internet banking platform.
  • The facility is often sanctioned immediately while customers can start using the approved OD limit within 48 hours.
  • Instant approval for overdraft facility: Customers get a moment approval for the OD facility with no documentation, using the Bank’s internet banking platform.
  • Extensive credit limit of OD: The Bank offers customers a credit limit worth up to 3 times their net salary.
  • Only buy what you use: Interest should be paid only on the particular OD amount utilised.
  • FlexiCash comes with a hard and fast rate of interest that’s calculated on a daily reducing balance.
  • The interest is charged only on the quantity you employ and therefore the period that you employ it. In case there’s no usage of the funds, there’ll be no interest payable.
  • The flexibility of repayment: Customers have the pliability to clear the outstanding limit at their convenience. They are only required to pay the interest that’s due monthly.
  • No foreclosure charges: the power offers customers the pliability to repay the OD amount that they avail, as and once they prefer to, with none foreclosure charges
  • The convenience of auto-renewal: Customers enjoy the convenience of the automated process enhancement and renewal of OD limit every 12 months.

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ICICI:

  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Managing Director & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi
  • Founder: Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India
  • Founded: June 1994, Vadodara
  • Tagline: Hum Hai Na, Khyal Apka.

Airtel Payments Bank launches ‘Suraksha salary account’ for MSMEs

  • Airtel Payments Bank has launched ‘Suraksha Salary Account’ for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
  • India’s MSME sector has over 60 million units and accounts for 29 per cent of India’s GDP.

‘Suraksha Salary Account’:

  • Through this innovative account construct, MSMEs and other organisations will be able to make cashless payments and also provide a financial security blanket to their employees.
  • The account offers benefits such as Hospicash Insurance and personal accident insurance cover, keeping in mind the low penetration of insurance in India. The account has no minimum balance condition.
  • Account-holders will be able to make cash withdrawals at Airtel Payments Bank’s 500,000 banking points across India.
  • There are no charges on cash withdrawals of up to Rs 50,000 and deposits of up to Rs 20,000 in one month.
  • Customers will also be able to make cash deposits and transfer money at these points.

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Airtel Payments Bank

  • CEO: Anubrata Biswas
  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Parent organization: Bharti Airtel
  • Founded: January 2017
  • Area served: India
  • Subsidiary: YTS Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Van Dhan Yojana: Expanded from 18,000 Van Dhan SHGs to 50,000

  • A webinar was organized by the TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India).
  • The webinar was titled “Van Dhan: Tribal Startups Bloom in India” During the webinar, it was informed that current coverage Van Dhan scheme is to be increased from 18,000 SHGs to 50,000 SHGs.
  • This is to be ac7hieved through Van Dhan Start-up programme.
  • The plan is to expand the Van Dhan SHGs and cover 10 lakh tribal gatherers. The aim is to transform tribal ecosystem as next Amul Revolution in terms of Minor Forest Produce.

Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram

  • The Government of India has allocated Rs 15 lakhs to every Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram centre. So far 25% to 30% of the grant has been spent on these centres.

Van Dhan

  • Under the Van Dhan Scheme, so far 1205 Tribal enterprises have been established.
  • The start up scheme launched has covered 10 lakh tribal gatherers.
  • The start ups that were started based on tribal produce are now spread across 22 states.
  • These Startups are called Van Dhan Startups.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Centre launched online delivery-based gas trading platform, Indian Gas Exchange

  • The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) in an e-ceremony on 15 June.
  • It will be the first nationwide online delivery-based gas trading platform.

Indian Gas Exchange (IGX):

  • IGX will act as a delivery-based trading platform to deliver natural gas.
  • The launch of IGX aims to help the nation move towards free-market pricing of natural gas
  • It is incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), India’s energy market platform.
  • IGX will enable market participants to trade in standardized gas contracts.
  • The fully automated platform is a web-based interface and it provides seamless trading experience to the customers.7
  • IGX is expected to play a bigger role in realizing a free market for gas.
  • IGX, India’s vision on mega investments on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, gas pipelines, City-gas distribution (CGD) infrastructure, and permission for market-driven price mechanism will be materialized.

Centre distributed assistive aids and devices to divyangjan under ADIP Scheme

  • Government of India has taken special measures to benefit the welfare scheme for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) amidst the prevailing unprecedented situation faced by the society due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

  • A Virtual Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) Scheme for free distribution of assistive aids and devices at Block level for Divyangjans under the ADIP scheme was organized at Talwandi Bhai Block of Firozpur district in Punjab.
  • Such camp was organized by the ALIMCO under DEPwD, M/o Social Justice and Empowerment for the first time after the opening of lockdown with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Government of India.
  • Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has announced that the Virtual ADIP Camps will be organized nationwide for distribution of aids & assistive devices to Divyangjan during the pandemic.
  • Under the Ministry, several schemes have been initiated to provide financial assistance and scholarships to Divyangjan students to pursue their education to become self-reliant.
  • Centre also invited Divyangjan and their family members to get enrolled for Unique ID Cards for Divyangjan which are valid all over India.
  • 31 Lakhs Unique ID Cards have been delivered to Divyangjan so far in India.
  • The following Aids and appliance were distributed in the series of Blockwise distribution camps in Firozpur district.

 The details are as under:

  • Braille Kit – 03
  • Motorised Tricycle – 200
  • Tricycle – 239
  • Wheel Chair – 194
  • P Chair – 23
  • Crutches – 394
  • Walking Sticks – 108
  • Smart Cane – 76
  • Smart Phone – 51
  • Daisy Player -17
  • Rollator -217
  • Hearing Aid – 226
  • MSIED KIT – 98
  • Artificial Limbs & Callipers – 17

Centre launched Feedback Call Centres on COVID-19 Public Grievances

  • Union Minister of State (MoS) for Personnel, PG and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the Feedback Call Centres on Public Grievances on 15 June.
  • Recently, the Department of Administrative7 Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) reached the milestone of redressing one lakh COVID-19 Public Grievances.

Highlights:

  • DARPG collaborated with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to operationalize Feed Back Call Centers in Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Jamshedpur, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Ajmer, Guntur, Coimbatore and Guntakal with 1406 call centre operators.
  • The Feedback Call Centres will get feedback from individual citizens on citizen satisfaction on 1.28 lakh COVID-19 Public Grievances that were filed on Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for the period 30 March to 30 May 2020.
  • Training on the feedback questionnaires that are necessary to call centre operators has been completed on 9-10 June 2020.
  • Feedback call-centres will operate in many Indian languages including Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese and Rajasthani.

India along with 12 other Countries leads ‘#VERIFIED’ initiative at UN to counter misinformation 7on COVID-19

  • India and 12 other countries have come together to lead United Nations initiative ‘#VERIFIED’, which aims to counter misinformation on the coronavirus by spreading fact-based content.
  • The other countries are Australia, Chile, France, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Latvia, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Senegal and South Africa.
  • Apart from these 13 nations, 132 other nations are endorsing the global call to fight the “infodemic” or manipulated information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • UN has launched this initiative in collaboration with Purpose, one of the world’s leading social mobilisation organisations.

Led by the UN Department for Global Communications (DGC),’Verified’ will provide information around three themes:

  • science — to save lives
  • solidarity — to promote local and global cooperation
  • solutions — to advocate for support to impacted populations

MoS for Home affairs G. Kishan Reddy launches device ‘GermiBAN’

  • A device named “GermiBAN” has been launched by the Union Minister of State for Home affairs G. Kishan Reddy.
  • The device has been developed by Atal Incubation Centre & Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of India (ALEAP) Women Entrepreneurs (WE) HUB.
  • The recently launched device has the capability of killing 99.9% of surface and air microbes.
  • Hence the device will be very useful for quarantine centres, isolation wards, hospitals and all general places for killing viruses like coronavirus.
  • ALEAP WE-HUB has been set up to encourage women startups, expanding incubation facilities to make available co-working spaces, equipment/machinery, business/market and network connections, common facility rooms, infrastructure, banking, investors, venture capitalists as well as angel netw7ork support.
  • It was set up with the support of Central Government’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI AAYOG.

CBIC Chairman M. Ajit Kumar launches “e-Office” application

  • “e-Office” application has been launched in over 500 CGST and Customs offices across India by the Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), M. Ajit Kumar.
  • With the launch of application, CBIC has become one of the largest Government departments to automate its internal office procedures.
  • The “e-Office” is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) under the National e-Governance of India. “e-Office” has been developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) and is supported by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
  • The launch of “e-Office” application will remove the manual handling of files and paper movement with automated internal office procedures, hence introducing fundamental changes.
  • This is another step of the organisation in leveraging technology for providing a ‘Faceless, Contactless and Paperless’ indirect Tax administration.

Extra Shots:

CBIC: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is the nodal national agency responsible for administering Customs, GST, Central Excise, Service Tax & Narcotics in India.

  • Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar
  • Founded: 1 January 1964
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Motto: देशसेवार्थ करसंचय
  • Subsidiary: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
  • Parent agencies: Ministry of Finance, Government of India

EPFO launches “Multi Location Claim Settlement” facility

  • Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a “Multi Location Claim Settlement” facility.
  • The “Multi Location Claim Settlement” facility will cover claims such as provident fund, pension, partial withdrawal and claims and transfer claims.
  • The “Multi Location Claim Settlement” facility will enable EPFO offices to settle online claims from any of its regional offices, across the country.
  • The recently launched facility will reduce any delay in claim settlement cycle.
  • By introducing this facility, EPFO has moved away from the existing system of geographical jurisdiction for claim processing, hence reducing the delays by uniformly distributing the claim settlement related workload nationwide.

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EPFO:

  • Founded: 4 March 1952, New Delhi
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • AUM: 11 Lakh Crore ($157 Billion USD)
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Type of business: Central-Owned

Govt distributes 3000 indigenous ventilators to hospitals

  • The central government, as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, has distributed indigenous ventilators to hospitals across the country in order to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

  • In a first slot, the government has distributed around 3000 domestic ventilators to the states.
  • The Union Health Ministry had indicated the projected demand of 75,000 ventilators till June.
  • As per the rising cases, the orders were rushed including the demands of the state governments.
  • Ventilators are the life -saving medical equipment that is required for the treatment of COVID-19, as some of the patients tend to develop acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS).
  • As per the senior government official, so far at least 3000 country-made ventilators have been distributed to the states across the country, which will be placed in various hospitals. Few are already under dispatch.
  • The officials have also informed that in the coming days the domestic production of ventilators will speed up matching the demand.
  • The central government had earlier announced May 13 that to tackle COVID-19 cases, 50,000 ‘Made in India’ Ventilators will be purchased from PM-Cares Fund costing approximately Rs. 2000 crores.
  • As per the Union Health Ministry, the total projected demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit till June 2020 has been estimated to be Rs. 2.01 crore.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

UP becomes top state in country to provide employment to workers under MGNREGA

  • Uttar Pradesh has become the top state in the country to provide employment to the workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme MGNREGA.
  • Uttar Pradesh provided employment to more than 57 lakh workers under MGNREGA.
  • 57 lakh 12975 workers got employment in around 57 thousand village panchayats of the state which is 18% of the total work generated under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the country.

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

Gujarat celebrates Yoga week across state

  • In Gujarat, various events are being organised by the State Yog Board through different social media platforms as part of the International Yoga Day celebrations.
  • When the whole world is fighting against Coronavirus, the ancient Indian therapies such as yoga and Pranayam have proved to be effective in boosting immunity.
  • State Yoga Board Chairman Shishpal Rajput said the Board has undertaken various activities such as Online Yoga classes, and awareness series to popularise Yoga among people especially in view of the Covid 19 pandemic.
  • Apart from this, the board has also organised various online competitions.
  • This year, International Yoga Day will be celebrated in the state on the theme‘ Yoga at Home, Yoga with family’.

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Gujarat:

  • Capital: Gandhinagar
  • Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
  • Governor: Acharya Devvrat
  • State formed on: 1 May 1960
  • Literacy Rate: 79.31%
  • National Park: Vansda NP, Blackbuck NP, Gir Forest NP, Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch

Special campaign to be launched in Rajasthan to create awareness about COVID-19

  • A state-wide 10-day long special campaign will be launched in Rajasthan to create awareness about COVID-19.
  • The campaign will be launched from 21st of June.
  • Under the campaign, State Health Department teams will conduct door-to-door active surveillance and make people aware of the precautions to be taken for prevention and control of COVID-19.

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Rajasthan

  • Capital:Jaipur
  • Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
  • Governor: Kalraj Mishra

Delhi govt to install CCTV cameras in all Coronavirus designated hospitals within 24 hours

  • Delhi Government has instructed its Public Works Department to install CCTV cameras in COVID-19 wards of all its Corona virus designated hospitals.
  • The order came soon after Home Minister Amit Shah directed Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev to install CCTV cameras in COVID wards of every designated hospital in the national capital for proper monitoring of services and ensuring patients’ issues are resolved.
  • PWD will install CCTV cameras in all COVID wards within 24 hours and submit a compliance report.
  • After paying a surprise visit to LNJP hospital yesterday, the Home Minister also suggested psychosocial counselling of doctors and nurses engaged in the fight against COVID.

Odisha’s unique festival Raja Parba celebrated

  • Raja Parba, Odisha’s three-day unique festival celebrating the onset of monsoon and the earth’s womanhood has begun.
  • As a mark of respect towards the earth during her menstruation days, all agricultural works, like ploughing, sowing are suspended for the three days.

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Odisha:

  • Capital: Bhubaneswar
  • Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
  • Governor: Ganeshi Lal
  • National Park: Bhitarkanika NP, Simlipal NP

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

HIL India Ltd. supplies 25 MT Malathion 95 percent ULV Insecticides to Iran for Locust Control Programme

  • HIL (India) Limited, a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has supplied 25MT Malathion 95% Ultra-low volume (ULV) to Iran under Government-to-Government initiative for Locust Control Programme.

Highlights:

  • HIL (India) Limited is supplying Malathion 95% ULV to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Locust Control Programme in India.
  • From the year 2019 to date, the HIL company has supplied more than 600 MT of Malathion 95% ULV for this programme.
  • As per the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the hopper stage population of the locust is building up in the Sistan-Baluchistan region of Iran and might migrate to India in the coming months leading to further crop devastation.
  • Also, the Government of India has taken an initiative to counter the locust menace at its breeding ground itself and approached Iran for coordinated efforts.

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HIL:

  • Headquarters: India
  • Founded: 1946
  • Subsidiaries: HIL International GmbH, Nepal Metal Company Ltd.

First US Women to Walk in Space, Kathy Sullivan, Creates History to become first woman to reach deepest point in ocean

  • Former NASA astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan, who became the first American woman to walk in space, has now created another record to become the first woman to reach the deepest point in the ocean.
  • On 8 June 2020, the 68-year-old became the first woman to reach the deepest point on Earth’s surface, after she reached 10.984 meters deep Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean.
  • Marina Trench is the deepest oceanic trench on Earth and its floor is known as the Challenger Deep
  • Only eight people till date have ever reached Challenger Deep.
  • On October 11, 1984, geologist Kathryn D. Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to take a walk in space, spending more than three hours outside the Challenger shuttle in Earth’s orbit.

Fifth State of Matter observed by NASA scientists

  • The NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) scientists in the International Space Station unveiled the first results of Bose-Einstein condensate experiments under which the particles can be manipulated free from Earthly constraints.

Bose-Einstein Condensates

  • Bose-Einstein Condensates were predicted by Indian Mathematician Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein almost a century ago.
  • The BEC is a state of matter that is typically formed when a gas of bosons is cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero.
  • Absolute Zero is the temperature at which the entropy and enthalpy of cooled gas reach their minimum value.

Four States of Matter

  • There are four state of matter namely solid, liquid, gas and plasma.
  • The fourth state of matter called the plasma was described by the chemist Irving Langmuir.
  • It consists of gas of ions in which orbital electrons are removed and positively charged nuclei roam freely.

Fifth State of Matter

  • The BEC is the fifth state of matter and was created by the scientists 25 years ago.
  • When a group of atoms are cooled to absolute zero, the atoms clump together behaving as a one big super atom.
  • This state is called the fifth state of matter and is referred to BEC.

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NASA:

  • Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
  • Preceding agency: NACA (1915–1958)
  • Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • Founded: 1 October 1958, United States
  • Administered by: Jim Bridenstine

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

Russia-India-China Trilateral Conference

  • The External Affairs Minister of India Shri S Jai Shankar is to hold a joint virtual conference with his Russian and Chinese Counterparts on June 22,2020.
  • The Minister is expected to discuss the recent standoff between Indian and Chinese militaries at the border.
  • The meeting is being convened with the initiative of Russia.
  • The countries will also discuss regional issues and synchronize their views on regional stability.

Background

  • India and China have been engaged in a bitter standoff along the Line of Actual Control at the eastern Ladakh for more than 5 weeks.
  • The countries are holding diplomatic and military level talks to resolve the dispute. Russia is expected to expand the discussion on SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), Russia-India-China trilateral forum and BRICS.
  • The leaders are also expected to discuss withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
  • The meeting of the RIC (Russia India and China) foreign ministers will also include discussions of the connectivity projects in the 7,200 km long INSTC (International North South Transport Corridor).
  • The INSTC links Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia with Europe.

Extra Shots:

Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/Ruble

  • Prime Minister: Dmitry Medvedev
  • President: Vladimir Putin
  • Official Language: Russian

China (Capital/Currency): Beijing/Renminbi

  • President: Xi Jinping
  • Official Language: Mandarin

RANKS AND INDICES

World Investment Report released by UNCTAD

  • The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development released its World Investment Report, 2020.

Highlights:

  • According to the report, India is the 9th largest largest recipient of FDI in 2019.
  • According to the report, the FDI of India has increased from 42 billion USD in 2018 to 51 million USD in 2019.
  • In the region of Asia, India was among the top 5 countries.
  • The report says that the investments in Digital sector of India was highly promising.
  • The investors of India in the first quarter of 2020 concluded deals that were worth of 650 million USD and majority of the deals were in digital sector.
  • The report said that the global FDI inflows are to decrease by 40% in 2020 as compared to 2019.
  • This is the first time since 2005 the global FDI falls below 1 trillion USD mark.
  • The FDI of developing economies in Asia are to hit hard and decline up to 45% in 2020.
  • The FDI inflows in South Asia increased by 10%.
  • The growth in the investment was driven largely by the growth of India.

Extra Shots:

UNCTAD: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. UNCTAD is the part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues.

  • Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Head: Mukhisa Kituyi
  • Founder: United Nations General Assembly
  • Founded: 30 December 1964
  • Formation: 30 December 1964; 55 years ago
  • Parent organizations: United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Secretariat

SIPRI Yearbook: Nuclear Weapons of India and China increases

  • The Swedish think-tank launched the SIPRI Yearbook, 2020.
  • According to the yearbook, India and China have increased their nuclear arsenal as compared to 2019.

Key findings

  • The think tank also reports that China is modernizing its nuclear arsenal. China and Pakistan as compared to India have more nuclear waeheads

The Think tank has listed the following

  • India has 150 nuclear war heads
  • China had 290 and Pakistan has around 150 to 160 nuclear war heads.

India

  • The report says that India is expanding its nuclear weapon stock pile and nuclear infrastructure.
  • Aircrafts are the most mature component of nuclear strike capability of India. India has assigned 48 nuclear bombs to its aircrafts.
  • India is also developing naval component of its nuclear triad.

China

  • The think tank says that China is developing the nuclear triad for the first time.
  • It has made new sea-based missiles and nuclear capable aircrafts.
  • The country has assigned over 240 war heads to operate its land and sea based ballistic missiles.
  • Also, China has adopted a nuclear strategy for its self defence.

Findings of SIPRI

  • According to SIPRI, the nine major nuclear armed states of the world include US, UK, Russia, France, India, Pakistan, China, North North Korea and Israel.
  • These countries together possessed 13,400 nuclear weapons in the beginning of 2020.
  • However, this has decreased to 13,865 nuclear weapons as compared to 2019. Of these 3,720 nuclear weapons are currently deployed and 1,800 are kept in high operational alert.
  • The reduction in the number of nuclear weapons as compare to 2019 was mainly because of the dismantlement of retired nuclear weapons by Russia and US.
  • US and Russia alone possess 90% of world nuclear weapons.

Extra Shots:

SIPRI: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute is an international institute based in Sweden, dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.

  • Founder: Government of Sweden
  • Founded: 6 May 1966
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden, Solna Municipality, Sweden

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

India joins Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) as a founding member

  • India joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI or Gee-Pay) as a founding member to support responsible and human-centric development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • With this, India has joined the group of leading nations and economies like USA, the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, and Singapore for launch of GPAI.
  • GPAI will be supported by a Secretariat, to be hosted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, as well as by two Centers of Expertise — one each in Montreal and Paris.
  • GPAI is an international and multi-stakeholder initiative to guide the responsible development and use of AI, with focus on human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth.
  • It is a first of its type initiative for better understanding of the challenges and opportunities around AI using the experience and diversity of participating countries.

Maharashtra govt signs MoUs worth Rs 16,000 Cr with companies

  • Desperate to restart the economy which has taken a hit by Coronavirus pandemic, the Maharashtra Government has signed Memorandum of Undertaking worth 16,000 crore rupees with companies spanning various industries, including two Chinese units, under its Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 initiative.
  • The companies are from diverse sectors like automobile, logistics, banking, engineering and mobile production.
  • The business pacts were mostly signed by MIDC Chief Executive Officer P. Ambalgan on behalf of the State Government and representatives of 12 countries including the USA, China, Singapore and South Korea among others.

Extra Shots:

Maharashtra:

  • Capital: Mumbai
  • Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
  • Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
  • National Parks: Chandoli National Park, Nawegaon National Park, Gugamal National Park, Pench National Park, Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park, Tadoba National Park
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amba Barwa WLS, Bor WLS, Great Indian Bustard WLS,

Lonar WLS, Melghat WLS, Gangewadi New Great Indian Bustard WLS, etc.

India-Nepal sign MoU

  • India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve infrastructure of the Pashupatinath temple complex.
  • The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Federal Affairs ministry of Nepal and Indian Embassy.
  • Under the agreement, India has pledged to extend financial assistance of Rs 2.33 crores.
  • The project is to be implemented by Kathmandu Metropolitan city.
  • India’s assistance comes amidst a raging border row between the two countries.

Pashupatinath Temple

  • The Pashupatinath temple is the largest temple complex in Nepal. It is located on the Bagmati river of Nepal. The temple is one of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bagmati river

  • The river is considered holy by both Hindus and Buddhists. The river flows in India and Nepal. It is a tributary of Kosi river.

India-Nepal Issue

  • The Nepal Parliament recently passed an amendment bill to redraw its political map.
  • The new map is to include Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura.
  • These regions are disputed and are claimed by both India and Nepal

Extra Shots:

Nepal (Capital/Currency): Kathmandu/ Nepalese rupee

  • President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL  AWARDS

Chef Angad Singh Rana wins QualityNZ Culinary Cup 2020

  • Chef Angad Singh Rana has won QualityNZ Culinary Cup 2020.
  • The award was announced by Cricket legend and Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming. Chef Angad Singh Rana grabbed the QualityNZ Culinary Cup 2020 alongside INR 50,000 worth of QualityNZ lamb and seafood and a Weber BBQ valued at over INR 46,000.
  • This award is the New Zealand’s first ‘Virtual’ Chef competition – the ‘Quality NZ Culinary Cup’ held in India.
  • The competition had quite 120 entries of which were shortlisted as finals.
  • The panel of judges included the heads of the Culinary Association, Chef Davinder Kumar, Chef Salil Fadnis, Chef Jugesh Arora and Stephen Fleming.

There were category winners as well:

  • QualityNZ Culinary Cup SEAFOOD CHALLENGE winner: Chef Angad Singh Rana.
  • QualityNZ Culinary Cup MUTTON/LAMB CHALLENGE winner: Chef Vaibhav

QualityNZ Imports:

  • QualityNZ Imports is an Indian-based import company, Stephen Fleming is that the shareholder and ambassador of the company alongside two other well-known cricketers, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori.
  • The QualityNZ Culinary Cup 2020 is supported by the South India Chef’s Association, the Indian Culinary Forum and therefore the Western India Culinary Association.

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Attorney General of India K.K. Venugopal gets an year extension

  • The current Attorney General of India, K. K. Venugopal, is all set to get one-year extension, after he accepted the government’s request to serve as the top law officer of the country for one more year.
  • His three-year tenure comes to an end on June 30, 2020.
  • The 89-year-old K. K. Venugopal was appointed as the 15th Attorney General of India on 30 June 2017 following AG Mukul Rohatgi.

Extra Shots:

Attorney General of India:

The Attorney General for India is the Indian government’s chief legal advisor, and is primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of India. They can be said to be the advocate from government’s side.

  • First holder: M. C. Setalvad
  • Term length: Upto the pleasure of The President
  • Constituting instrument: Article 76 of the Constitution
  • Residence: New Delhi, India
  • Formation: 28 January 1950

RBI Approves Kaizad Bharucha’s Re-appointment as HDFC Bank Executive Director

  • Private sector lender HDFC Bank said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Kaizad Bharucha as the executive director of the bank for a period of three years with effect from 13 June.
  • In his current position, Bharucha is responsible for wholesale banking covering areas of corporate banking, emerging corporate group, business banking, capital markets and commodities business, agri lending, among others.

Extra Shots:

HDFC Bank

  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Chairman: Deepak S. Parekh
  • Tagline: We understand your world

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Asian Champion Runner Gomathi Marimuthu Banned For Four Years For Doping, Stripped of Asian Championships Gold

  • Middle distance runner Gomathi Marimuthu, has been banned for four years and stripped off her 2019 Asian Championships gold medal by the Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU), until May 2023 for doping charges.
  • The 31-year-old Marimuthu tested positive for anabolic steroid nandrolone at the 2019 Asian championships in April.
  • The Tamil Nadu athlete has also been disqualified from all races between March 18 and May 17, 2019.
  • Gomathi had clocked a personal best time of 2 minutes 02.70 seconds in the women’s 800m race in Asian Athletics Championships 2019.
  • It was the first time an Indian won gold in the women’s 800m event in the competition.

Extra Shots:

Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU):

  • The Athletics Integrity Unit was founded by the International Association of Athletics Federations in April 2017 to combat doping in the sport of athletics. The unit functions fully independently from the IAAF. It is currently led by head Brett Clothier.
  • Founded: 3 April 2017

 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India joined GPAI to support the responsible and human-centric development and use of AI

  • India has joined as a founding member and launched the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI or Gee-Pay).
  • Under this move, India has joined along with the league of leading economies including Australia, the US, the UK, European Union (EU), Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Korea, Singapore.

Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI):

  • GPAI initiative aims to guide the responsible development and use of AI across the world.
  • The first of its kind initiative aims to evolve a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities around AI using the experience and diversity of participating countries.
  • The main objective of the initiative is to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.
  • Under this initiative experts from civil society, governments, industry, and academia will collaborate to promote the responsible evolution of AI.
  • They will evolve new methodologies through which AI can be leveraged to better respond to the present global crisis around COVID-19 pandemic.
  • By joining GPAI as a founding member, India will now participate in the global development of AI, leveraging upon its experience around the use of digital technologies for inclusive growth.
  • GPAI will be supported by a Secretariat. It will be hosted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, and 2 Centers of Expertise- one in Montreal and the other in Paris.

Rapid Antigen Test Kits recommended

  • The Indian Council of Medical Research recommended the use of Rapid Antigen test kits along with RT-PCR in containment zones.
  • The Antigen test kits will allow faster diagnosis.
  • They will reduce laboratory examination.
  • The maximum time taken by the Rapid antigen test to interpret positive or negative is 30 minutes.
  • The Antigen Test kits were developed by a South Korea based company SD Biosensor.
  • The USFDA had earlier authorized US based antigen kit called sofia 2 SARS Antigen kit.
  • Also, Japan had authorized the Fujirebio’s Antigen test kit.
  • However, with tests and analysis conducted by AIIMS and ICMR, India was satisfied with the performance of SD Biosensor antigen kit.
  • The selection was done based on the specificity and sensitivity of the kits.
  • The specificity of the test is 99.3% to 100%. The sensitivity of the test ranged between 50.6% and 84%.

Antigen test

  • Just like the RT-PCR test of COVID-19, the antigen testing also looks for virus rather than the antibodies. Antigens are foreign substances that induce immune system in the body.

The Antigen Test is to be used in three categories as follows:

  • Persons showing influenza like symptoms
  • Asymptomatic patients hospitalized for the treatment of malignant disease, immunosuppressed patients, transplant patients, etc.
  • Asymptomatic patients undergoing aerosol and surgical interventions such as surgical procedures, dialysis and bronchoscopy.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism Biography by Dinyar Patel

  • Historian Dinyar Patel’s biography of Dadabhai Naoroji, “Naoroji Pioneer of Indian Nationalism” was published by the Harvard University Press in May 2020.
  • The book displays the life chapters of Dadabhai Naoroji like the chapters on his campaign on the British parliament Elections and his political works in London and his victory in the Central Finsbury seat in 1892.
  • The book provides a detail on how Naoroji got the support of William Gladstone and Lord Ripon of Liberal party and Irish Home Rule activist respectively.
  • The book is more informative than the previous biographies.

About Dinyar Patel:

  • Patel is an assistant professor at the Department of History at the University of South Carolina.
  • He researched the life and career of Indian Nationalist Leader Dadabhai Naoroji.
  • He focused on the Indian Nationalist Movements, the city of Bombay and the Parsi Zarostrain community.

OBITUARY

Former New Zealand cricketer Matt Poore passes away

  • Former New Zealand Test cricketer, Matt Poore passed away.
  • He was featured in 14 Tests for New Zealand, scoring 355 runs and picking up nine wickets between 1953-1956.
  • He also played 61 Tests for Canterbury and scored 2,336 runs and ended up with 68 wickets.

Former Lok Sabha MP Madhavrao Patil passes away

  • Former Lok Sabha MP and founder of Janalaxmi Cooperative Bank, Madhavrao Patil passed away.
  • Patil had won from Nashik Lok Sabha constituency on a Congress ticket in 1998.
  • He was a big supporter of Sharad Pawar and was among the first to join when the latter formed the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999.

Uttarakhand folk singer Heera Singh Rana passes away

  • Noted folk singer of Uttarakhand, Heera Singh Rana passed away.
  • He was born in 1942 in Manila Dandholi village of Almora. He visited Kolkata with a scholarship to review music.
  • Recently he was appointed vice-chairman of Garhwal, Kumaoni and Jaunsari Academy by the govt of Delhi.
  • In the 1980s and 1990s, his songs like ‘Rangile Bindi Ghanghri kai dhoti lal kinara yai hai-hair re mijata’ became were very fashionable among the hilly regions of the state.
  • His song ‘Tyar pahad-myar pahad hoi dukhon ko dyar pahad’ depicted the migration problem of the hills.

Senior journalist, freedom fighter Dinu Randive passes away