Current Affairs Today 21st and 22nd June 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 21st and 22nd June 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) celebrates National Reading Day annually on 19 June.
2. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) organises the World Refugee Day on June 20 each year.
3. International Day of Yoga 2020 is celebrated on 21 June every year to create awareness globally about the benefits of practicing yoga.
4. International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice is observed globally on 21st June.
5. World Music Day is observed globally on 21st June every year.
6. World Hydrography Day is observed globally on 21st June every year.
7. Zomato co-founder Pankaj Chaddah and ex-Zomato Chief of Staff Pooja Khanna have announced their entrepreneurial venture Mindhouse, a mental wellness service that offers a variety of guided meditation sessions and techniques.
8. Leading bourse BSE figures among the world’s 10 largest exchanges in terms of cumulative market capitalisation of all companies listed on its platform, as per the latest data from the World Federation of Exchanges.
9. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that he believes India will be a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles within the next five years, adding that several countries do not want to deal with China after the COVID-19 crisis which can be an opportunity for India
10. Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has launched a dedicated Rs 50,000 crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, via video conference, on 20 June 2020 for Migrant workers
11. As per the data provided by the Union Finance Ministry on 20th June 2020, through Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), a total of 42 crore citizens across the country have received financial aid of Rs 65,454 crore to date.
12. In a first-of-its-kind initiative by a metro rail system in northern India, the Noida-Greater Noida Metro has decided to convert the Sector 50 station into a “She-Man” station that will have special facilities and employment for the transgender community.
13. In Madhya Pradesh, the Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company has started the Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Scheme for women empowerment in one of its kind of initiatives. In this scheme, women Self-Help Groups at Gram Panchayat level will work as Nishtha Vidyut Mitra.
14. In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has today launched a statewide public awareness campaign to make people aware of Corona virus.
15. One of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited, Sambalpur headquartered Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) on 20th June 2020 has informed that the company has prepared a Rs 60,000 crore investment plan for the state of Odisha.
16. The state government of Jharkhand is likely to become the second state after Kerala in the country to launch a job guarantee scheme that will be on the lines of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
17. The state government of Tripura has decided to start a scheme for school students from 25th June 2020.
18. At the centuries-old historic Kamakhya Temple at Guwahati, for the first time in six centuries of record available from 1565, the 5 days Ambubachi Mela will not be organized due by keeping in mind the possibility of spreading the COVID-19 virus.
19. A Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 20.10 million has been extended by the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on behalf of the Government of India, to the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua.
20. France and India signed an agreement with Paris committing 200 million euros to support Delhi’s Covid response.
21. The House of Representatives in Nepal on 18th June 2020 had made a constitutional amendment under which the map of Nepal was revised.
22. The 45th annual meeting of the United States India Business Council (USIBC) will be marked with the 2020 India Ideas Summit.
23. Indian officials, including representatives from enforcement agencies, have participated in the 32nd special Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) plenary meeting 2020, under the aegis of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
24. Coal India Limited (CIL) has agreed to partner with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog to support proactively the flagship mission’s innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across the country.
25. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) partnered with HDFC Bank to offer industry 1st online auto retail financing on its end-to-end online automotive retail platform, ‘Click to Buy’ to the customers.
26. Niti Aayog has formed a panel to develop a job platform for migrant labourers
27. The U.S. Senate has appointed Indian-American scientist Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan as the Director of the National Science Foundation(NSF).
28. The Professional Risk Managers’ International Association has appointed Dr Nirakar Pradhan, CFA, as the Chief Executive Officer of its new India office.
29. German luxury car maker BMW on Saturday appointed Vikram Pawah as the president of BMW Group India effective August 1, 2020, in addition to his current role as chief executive officer of BMW Group Australia and New Zealand.
30. Following the violent Galwan valley clash on 15th June 2020 and a six-week-long border standoff with the Chinese army, under emergency requirement procurement Rs 500 crore of funds was granted by the Government for the Armed Forces.
31. The Ministry of Sports has decided to establish 1,000 Khelo India Centers (KIC) at the district level across the country.
32. The football club Napoli has won the 2019-20 Coppa Italia cup after defeating Juventus with 4–2 on shootout penalties in the final after a goalless draw.
33. The Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi, launched a portal called SATYABHAMA.
34. Noted economist B P R Vithal, who served as a Member of the 10th Finance Commission, has passed away due to age-related ailment. He was 93.
35. Former Left-arm spinner Rajinder Goel passed away. Goel played 157 first-class matches, most of them for Haryana, and finished with 750 wickets.
36. Padma Shri awardee and a social worker Vidyaben Shah passed away recently.
37. British singer Vera Lynn, whose sentimental ballads during World War II provided the soundtrack for the Allied war effort, has died at the age of 103.
38. For the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 positive patients across the country, on 19th June 2020, for manufacturing and marketing of oral antiviral drug ‘Favipiravir (Fabiflu)’ was approved by the National Regulatory Authority for Indian pharmaceuticals -Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to Mumbai based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.
39. The researchers found a fossil of an extinct ancestor of Elephant, that is estimated to be around between 5 to 8 million old. The fossil was discovered in the state of Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur District’s Badshahi Bagh area.
40. On 17th June 2020, a study was published in the Journal Nature, according to which the fossil named “The Thing’ was the second-largest egg interms of size (29 by 20 centimeters) that has been discovered to date. It is the second largest to the Madagascan Elephant Bird (extinct) egg and also the largest soft-shelled egg on record.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

25^th National Reading Day observed on 19 June, 2020

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) celebrates National Reading Day annually on 19 June.
• The Day is celebrated to honour the father of the ‘Library Movement in Kerala’, the late P.N. Panicker, whose death anniversary falls on June 19.
• In 2020, 25th National Reading Day was celebrated with special focus on technology enabled reading.
• The week following June 19 will be observed as Reading Week and the entire month till July 18 will be observed as Reading Month.
• The first Reading Day celebration was held in 1996.

Extra Shots:

P N Panicker Foundation

• Headquarters: Trivandrum, Kerala

World Refugee Day observed on 20 June

• The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) organises the World Refugee Day on June 20 each year.
• Purpose: to raise awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world.
• 2020 Theme: “Every Action Counts”
• The United Nations General Assembly recognised the day on 4 December 2020.

Extra Shots:

UNHCR:

• The High Commissioner: Filippo Grandi
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founder: United Nations
• Founded: 14 December 1950

International Day of Yoga 2020 is celebrated on 21 June

• International Day of Yoga 2020 is celebrated on 21 June every year to create awareness globally about the benefits of practicing yoga.

Aim:

• The aim is to improve health and create awareness about the importance of maintaining health to the people.
• WHO aims to fulfill the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030: More active people for a healthier world.

Theme:

• The theme of the 6th International Day of Yoga 2020 is “Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family”.
• Due to COVID-19, this year International Day of Yoga will be celebrated virtually at 7 am on June 21 so people will join through digital platforms.

History:

• The idea of International Day of Yoga was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2014. PM Narendra Modi also suggested 21st June as International Yoga Day because 21st June is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and has much significance in different parts of the world. On 11 December 2014, UNGA proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by passing resolution 69/131.

International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice observed on 21 June

• International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice is observed globally on 21st June.

Objective:

• This day bring awareness about solstices and equinoxes and their significance for several religions and ethnic cultures.

History:

• The International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 20th June 2019 within the Resolution A/RES/73/300.

About Solstice

• Solstice is that the point at which the Sun is at its greatest distance from the world and equinox is when space is that the lowest. Both solstice and equinox have their own significance for Christians, Muslims, and other religions.
• A solstice derived from the Latin sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”) because the seasonal movement of the Sun’s daily path (as seen from Earth) appears to “standstill” at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction is an occasion that occurs when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly day-arc relative to the equator.
• Therefore, there are two solstices that occur annually: around the summer solstice (commonly referred to as “Summer Solstice” for being the primary day of summer and therefore the longest day of the year) and December 21 (commonly referred to as “Winter Solstice” for being the primary day of winter and the shortest day of the year).

World Music Day observed on 21 June

• World Music Day is observed globally on 21st June every year.
• This day is celebrated to honour amateur and professional musicians.
• Over 120 countries celebration World Music Day by organizing free public concerts in parks, streets, stations, museums and other such public places.

Aim:

• The aim of celebrating World Music Day is to provide free music to everyone, and also to encourage amateur musicians to showcase their work to the world.

History

• World Music Day was founded by France’s Minister of Culture, Jack Lang and also Maurice Fleuret, a French composer, music journalist, radio producer, arts administrator, and festival organiser, on the day of the summer solstice in Paris in 1982.

World Hydrography Day observed on 21 June

• World Hydrography Day is observed globally on 21st June every year.
• This day was adopted by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) as an annual celebration to publicise the work of hydrographers and the importance of hydrography.

Theme:

• World Hydrography Day 2020 theme is “Hydrography enabling autonomous technologies”.

History

• The IHO came up with the idea of a World Hydrography Day in 2005, and it was welcomed by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution A/RES/60/30 Oceans and the law of the sea. The date chosen to mark the day is the anniversary of the founding of the International Hydrographic Organization.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Zomato co-founder Pankaj Chaddah launches mental wellness start-up Mindhouse

• Zomato co-founder Pankaj Chaddah and ex-Zomato Chief of Staff Pooja Khanna have announced their entrepreneurial venture Mindhouse, a mental wellness service that offers a variety of guided meditation sessions and techniques.
• The Mindhouse app provides meditation and yoga content in the form of live classes and a vastlibrary of modules that can be consumed anytime by the user.
• The classes are led by a team of instructors and conducted in an interactive format.
• They also offer yoga classes, delivered in the same format, as well as proprietary pre-recorded audio and video content.

Extra Shots:

Zomata:

• Headquarters: DLF Phase V, Gurugram, Haryana, India
• Founder(s): Deepinder Goyal, Pankaj Chaddah

BSE ranks among 10 most valued exchanges in the world

• Leading bourse BSE figures among the world’s 10 largest exchanges in terms of cumulative market capitalisation of all companies listed on its platform, as per the latest data from the World Federation of Exchanges.
• BSE is at the tenth place in the top-10 list, with a market capitalisation of $1.7 trillion.
• The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) tops the chart with a valuation of $19.3 trillion.Nasdaq comes second with a market capitalisation of $13.8 trillion.

Extra Shots:

BSE:  The BSE, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd., is an Indian stock exchange located at Dalal Street, Mumbai. Established in 1875, it is Asia’s oldest stock exchange. The BSE is the world’s 10th largest stock exchange with an overall market capitalization of more than $2.2 trillion on as of April 2018.

• of listings: 5,439
• Location: Mumbai, India
• Founded: 9 July 1877
• Key people: Just. Vikramajit Sen; (Chairman); Ashishkumar Chauhan; (MD & CEO)
• Indices: BSE SENSEX; S&P BSE SmallCap; S&P BSE MidCap; S&P BSE LargeCap; BSE 500

India will be global manufacturing hub for electric vehicles in five years: Nitin Gadkari

• Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that he believes India will be a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles within the next five years, adding that several countries do not want to deal with China after the COVID-19 crisis which can be an opportunity for India
• The minister said the government has lowered the GST on electrical vehicles to 12 per cent.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is a ministry of the Government of India, that is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to road transport, transport research and in also to increase the mobility and efficiency of the road transport system in India.

• Jurisdiction: India
• Founded: July 1942
• Headquarters: Parivahan Bhavan, 1, Parliament Street, New Delhi
• Annual budget: 91,823 crores INR (US$13 billion, 2020-21 est.)
• Ministry executives: Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary; I.K. Pandey, Director General (Road Development) and Special Secretory to Government of India
• Officeholders: Mansukh L. Mandaviya (Minister of State), Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister)

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

PM Modi launches Rs 50,000 crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan for Migrant Workers

• Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has launched a dedicated Rs 50,000 crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, via video conference, on 20 June 2020 for Migrant workers

Highlights:

• States with more than 25,000 migrant returnees.
• Currently the campaign will be launched in six states (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha.).
• The campaign aims to create jobs for millions of migrant workers who returned home during the coronavirus-induced lockdown across the country, and, boost livelihood opportunities in rural India by creating durable infrastructure along with boosting employment opportunities.
• The programme will run in “mission mode” for 125 days across 116 districts in six states to help migrant workers get jobs in their home states.
• These states witnessed the return of highest number of migrant workers (more than 25,000 migrant).
• Besides, this, twelve different ministries or departments will participate in the programme, which includes, rural development, panchayati raj, transport, mines, drinking water, environment, railways, petroleum, new and renewable energy, border roads, telecom and agriculture.
• The campaign will involve intensified and focused implementation of 25 different types of works to provide jobs and create infrastructure in the rural regions of the country.
• Note- The campaign may be extended to other states or districts which witnesses migrant returnees above 25,000.

42 Crore Citizens received Financial Aid of Rs 65,454 Crore under PMGKP

• As per the data provided by the Union Finance Ministry on 20th June 2020, through Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), a total of 42 crore citizens across the country have received financial aid of Rs 65,454 crore to date.
• The amount was distributed in the 3 forms

1. Through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to beneficiaries such as women Jhan Dhan account holders, senior citizens/differently-abled/widows registered under Below Poverty Line (BPL), farmers (PM-KISAN), etc
2. Providing free foodgrains to all families registered as BPL cardholders, and
3. by providing free LPG cylinder to women registered under Ujjwala Yojana.

Highlights of Distribution

• 52 Crore LPG cylinders distributed under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in April and May
• In April,113 lakh metric tonnes of food grains were lifted by all states and union territories in a combine
• 8 lakh metric tonnes of pulses allocated for all states and union territories for distribution for 3 months from April to June
• Rs 2814.5 crore provided to 2.81 crore beneficiaries (senior citizens, widows and differently-abled persons)
• Rs 17,891 crore under first payment for the FY 2020-21 to PM-KISAN beneficiaries
• In three separate installments, 20.62 crore women Jan Dhan account holders were credited with Rs 500 in each installment.
• A total of Rs 10,315 crore was transferred in each installment.

Extra Shots:

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP)

• This package was announced by Finance Minister on 26th March 2020. The package was announced for providing economic support at the time of nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic for the financially weaker section of the society. A total of Rs 1.70 lakh crore was announced under the package.

Noida Metro is Building a New ‘She-Man’ Station to Make it More Trans-Friendly

• In a first-of-its-kind initiative by a metro rail system in northern India, the Noida-Greater Noida Metro has decided to convert the Sector 50 station into a “She-Man” station that will have special facilities and employment for the transgender community.
• This step is being taken by the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) for the “inclusion and meaningful participation” of the members of the transgender community.

Extra Shots:

The Noida Metro is a rapid transit system connecting the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. The metro network consists of one line, with a total length of 29.7 kilometres serving 21 stations. A second line is planned.

• Began operation: 25 January 2019
• Transit type: Rapid transit
• Number of lines: 1 (planned, operational)
• Top speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
• Number of stations: 21
• Operator(s): DMRC & NMRC

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

MP,Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company starts Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Scheme for women empowerment

• In Madhya Pradesh, the Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company has started the Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Scheme for women empowerment in one of its kind of initiatives. In this scheme, women Self-Help Groups at Gram Panchayat level will work as Nishtha Vidyut Mitra.

Highlights of the Scheme:

• This scheme will increase the revenue collection of the company as well as women will also earn extra.
• This scheme has been implemented in all the Gram Panchayats of all 16 districts of Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Gwalior and Chambal divisions of the company’s jurisdiction.
• Under the Nishtha Vidyut Mitra scheme, women Self-Help Groups will motivate consumers to pay bills online or through the UPAY App, redress of various complaints of consumers like faulty meters and provide new connections through online processes.
• Apart from this, they will also help the company to provide information about the electricity theft and illegal use of electricity.
• The company will pay an incentive to Nishtha Vidyut Mitra for recovery of dues and new connections.

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

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

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot launches Corona public awareness campaign in state

• In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has today launched a statewide public awareness campaign to make people aware of Corona virus.
• This campaign will be run till 30th of June. In the digital launch of this campaign, nearly one lakh people from 11 thousand 500 Panchayats have connected through a virtual conference.
• Every person should show self-restraint to prevent the epidemic, so that the government does not have to take tough steps.
• Gehlot announced to launch ‘Indira Rasoi Yojana’ to provide cooked food to the needy people.

Rajasthan

• Capital:Jaipur
• Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
• Governor: Kalraj Mishra
• Literacy Rate: 66.11%

MCL prepares Rs 60,000 Crores Investment Plan in Odisha

• One of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited, Sambalpur headquartered Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) on 20th June 2020 has informed that the company has prepared a Rs 60,000 crore investment plan for the state of Odisha.

Highlights:

• At present, about 30 coal mines are operated by MCL in Odisha. In the next few years, the company had set a target to enhance coal production to 300 million tonnes per annum for which it will develop and operate three new MDO (mine, develop and operate) projects in the state.
• For the development of Mines and Social Infrastructure in the state( such as roads, flyovers, schools), MCL has planned to invest Rs 31,000 crore under its command areas in 4 districts of the state by 2013-24.
• Out of 3 new MDO projects, one will be at Ib Valley Coalfield of Jharsuguda district. The other 2 projects will be at Talcher coalfield of Angul district.
• At Sundergarh district, a supercritical power plant of 2X800 MW planned by the company at an estimated cost of Rs 11,363 crore.
• MCL to set up solar power plants for improving the quality of life in areas affected by dust suppression due to coal mining in districts such as Sundergarh, Angul, etc, and will also strengthen coal evacuation infrastructure in its command areas.
• The company is also committed to introducing the latest technologies for developing greenery and adopting best practices for afforestation and agriculture.

Extra Shots:

Odisha:

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

Job Gaurantee Scheme for Urban Poor to be launched by Jharkhand Government

• The state government of Jharkhand is likely to become the second state after Kerala in the country to launch a job guarantee scheme that will be on the lines of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).

Highlights:

• The scheme unlike MNREGA (which focuses on providing a 100-day job for the Rural poor), will focus on providing 100-day work for the unskilled workers living in the urban areas of the state.
• The scheme aimed to enhance the livelihood security for the urban poor will be named Mukhyamantri SHRAMIK (Shahri Rozgar Manjuri For Kamgar).
• The scheme is awaiting approval of the state cabinet.
• Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (AUEGS) is the 100-day employment guarantee scheme of the Kerala Government for urban poor.
• For the first 30 days a beneficiary of the scheme will be entitled to one-fourth of the wages as unemployment allowance, while if the local body failsto provide job during the next 30 days then the beneficiary will be provided with half of the total 100 days work wage entitled.

Extra Shots:

Jharkhand

• Capital: Ranchi
• Chief Minister: Hemant Soren
• Governor: Draupadi Murmu

Tripura Government to start ‘Play Little, Study Little’ Scheme from 25th June

• The state government of Tripura has decided to start a scheme for school students from 25th June 2020.
• The scheme is named ‘Ektu Khelo, Ektu Padho’ –meaning ‘Play Little, Study Little’.
• The scheme will be implemented via SMS or WhatsApp.
• For students, those who have access to smartphones of their parents will be able to access the smartphones of their parents will be able to access the scheme through WhatsApp.
• For students having feature phones, they will be able to access through SMS.
• The objective of the scheme is to make sure that students invest their time in studies during these times of uncertainty as it could still take a a couple of months for schools to reopen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• As per the scheme name ‘Play little’, students apart from studies will also be provided with fun and games activities.
• The scheme will benefit students from 4,398 government-aided and 335 private schools across the state.

How to access:

• Every morning, from the headquarter of the state’s Education Department the learning contents will be shared with the academic coordinator each district.
• The coordinator of the district will share the same with the headmasters of the schools located in that particular district.
• The school headmasters will further share it with the teachers of their schools, a single teacher will have the responsibility of a particular number of students of the school.
• The teacher will share the content will the students.

Extra Shots:

Tripura

• Capital: Agartala
• Chief Minister: Biplab Kumar Deb
• Governor: Ramesh Bais
• Literacy Rate: 87.75%

No Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple for the first time in Recorded History

• At the centuries-old historic Kamakhya Temple at Guwahati, for the first time in six centuries of record available from 1565, the 5 days Ambubachi Mela will not be organized due by keeping in mind the possibility of spreading the COVID-19 virus.
• Every year the fair draws lakhs of pilgrims, tourists, sadhus, and others from all over the country.
• As per the Assam State Tourism, a minimum of 5 lakh devotees attend the fair that also includes many foreigners.
• The rituals of Ambubachi Mahayog will be performed by the priests of the temple by maintaining the social distancing norms.
• The Mahayog will be performed at the Devalaya from 07:53:15 am- 22nd June to 8:16:55 pm- 25th June.
• Kamakhya Temple will remain closed for the devotees till the 30th of June 2020 as per the decision taken by the Kamakhya Devalaya Management Committee

Extra Shots:

Kamakhya Temple

• The Hindu temple located at the Nilachal Hill is dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya. The temple as per history was built by King Narakasura. As per the official records available from 1565, the temple was rebuilt by Koch King Naranarayan. Kamakhya is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths (each of the 51 Shakti Peeths represents a body part of Lord Shiva’s companion, Sati).

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Exim Bank extends LOC of USD 20.10 Mn to government of Nicaragua

• A Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 20.10 million has been extended by the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on behalf of the Government of India, to the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua.
• This LOC has been extended for reconstruction of Aldo Chavarria Hospital in the Republic of Nicaragua.

Extra Shots:

Nicaragua (Capital/Currency): Managua/Nicaraguan córdoba.

• President: Daniel Ortega
• Official Language: Spanish

EXIM Bank:

• CEO: David Rasquinha
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 1 January 1982
• Subsidiaries: Export Import Bank of India, London Branch, Export-Import Bank of India, Asset Management Arm

France commits 200 million Euros for India’s Covid response

• France and India signed an agreement with Paris committing 200 million euros to support Delhi’s Covid response.
• Through this loan, France will work with India to increase the state and central governments’ capacities to support the country’s most vulnerable people in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
• The programme design, developed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Indian authorities, seeks to optimize and scale up the Indian Government’s existing social protection measures

Extra Shots:

Agence Française de Développement (AFD):

• President of the Board: Laurence Tubiana
• Director General: Rémy Rioux
• Headquarters: Paris, France

France (Capital/Currency): Paris/Euro

• Prime Minister: Edouard Philippe
• President: Emmanuel Macron
• Official Language: French

FM radio stations in Nepal starts Weather Bulletins of Indian Territories

• The House of Representatives in Nepal on 18th June 2020 had made a constitutional amendment under which the map of Nepal was revised.
• The revised map surprisingly included three Indian territories as part of Nepal.
• The 3 areas are- Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura.
• On 21st June 2020, it was reported from Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand that some Nepalese FM radio stations located in Nepal’s bordering districtwith India- Darchula, have started broadcasting weather report of Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura.
• The local authorities however are yet to confirm any such developments from the Nepalese FM site yet.
• The information was provided by the residents of Pithoragarh.
• Treaty of Sugauli signed in December 1815 and was ratified in the month of March 1816 and was ratified in the month of March 1816 establishes and serves as the borderline between India and Nepal.

Extra Shots:

Nepal (Capital/Currency): Kathmandu/ Nepalese rupee

• Prime Minister: KP Sharma Oli
• President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
• Official Language: Nepali

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

India to lead Summit 2020 on 21st, 22nd July

• The 45th annual meeting of the United States India Business Council (USIBC) will be marked with the 2020 India Ideas Summit.
• India will virtually host the event on 21st and 22nd July.

USIBC:

• Different sessions will be organized, with each session focusing on a particular issue related to India.
• The summit will showcase the importance of the positive outcome of the India-US economic partnership and the overall bilateral relationship between the two nations.
• USIBC summit is an outcome of the joint efforts of the United States Chambers of Commerce and USIBC.

Extra Shots:

USIB: The U.S.-India Business Council was formed in 1975 as a business advocacy organization to enlighten and encourage the private sectors of both India and United States to enhance investment flows.

• Headquarters location: Washington, D.C., United States
• Founded: 1975
• Chairman: Nisha Desai Biswal
• Type of business: Non-profit organisation

India Attend 32nd Virtual EAG Plenary Meeting 2020 Chaired by EAG Chairman Mr. Yury Chikhanchin

• Indian officials, including representatives from enforcement agencies, have participated in the 32nd special Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) plenary meeting 2020, under the aegis of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• The virtual meet, chaired by the EAG Chairman Mr. Yury Chikhanchin (Russian Federation) and the EAG Deputy Chairman Mr. Farhod Bilolov (Republic of Tajikistan).Earlier, china planned to host this meeting in June 2020.
• However, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the FATF has decided to cancel the joint Plenary meeting.
• The meeting witnessed the approval of ML/TF (Money laundering /terrorist financing) risk assessment methodology in the Eurasian region along with the information collection methods.
• The Secretariat has presented the report on the progress in the implementation of the pilot project to coordinate the provision of technical assistance for the Republic of Tajikistan, which included interim findings.

Extra Shots:

FATF:

• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Membership: 39
• President: Xiangmin Liu

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

AIM partners with CIL to boost its Innovation and Entrepreneurship initiatives

• Coal India Limited (CIL) has agreed to partner with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog to support proactively the flagship mission’s innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across the country.
• A strategic Statement of Intent (SoI) partnership between AIM and Coal India Limited was signed and exchanged in a virtual e-summit for the 19 June.

Highlights:

• AIM has various innovation programs and entrepreneurial ecosystem building initiatives such as:

1. Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) at a school level
2. Atal Incubation Centres (AIC) at institutional levels
3. Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACIC) for Tier-2, Tier3 cities, and rural India
4. Atal New India Challenges (ANIC) at an industry level

• Applied Research and Innovation (ARISE) for stimulating innovations in the MSME industry
• The partnership intends to conduct various activities/programs to support greater awareness and promotion of the innovation ecosystem through the above-mentioned AIM programmes and newer initiatives.

Extra Shots:

CIL:

• CEO: Anil Kumar Jha
• Headquarters: Kolkata
• Owner: Government of India (70.96%)
• Director: Pramod Agrawal

ACQUISITION & MERGER

Hyundai Motor India Ltd Partners with HDFC Bank Offers Industry 1st Online Auto Retail Financing :‘Click to Buy’ platform

• Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) partnered with HDFC Bank to offer industry 1st online auto retail financing on its end-to-end online automotive retail platform, ‘Click to Buy’ to the customers.
• Under this collaboration, HMIL will provide customised car financing solutions to its customers from HDFC bank through its online car buying platform.
• This partnership enables the customers to choose loans and get the funds they need to buy their favorite Hyundai car without visiting HDFC Bank branch
• HMIL launched ‘Click to Buy’, an upgraded version of end-to-end online automotive retail platform to provide a safe, contactless & convenient purchasing experience to its consumers after the COVID times.

Extra Shots:

 HMIL:

• It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC)
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO):Seon Seob Kim

RECENT COMMITTEES IN NEWS

NITI Aayog forms panel to develop job platform for migrant labourers

• Niti Aayog has formed a panel to develop a job platform for migrant labourers.
• Through this panel, Niti Aayog includes top officials of tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Tech Mahindra.
• This platform helps migrant workers have lost their jobs during the lockdown period.
• The main aim is to develop a platform that can help blue-collar workers find job opportunities in their own language and location.
• The panel has some prominent names from the industry including Reliance Industries President Kiran Thomas, Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari, Tech Mahindra MD and CEO CP Gurnani, Google India country manager and vice president Sanjay Gupta, Bharti Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal, among others.
• As per estimates, there are over 40 crore workers in the unorganized sector accounting for around 30 per cent of India”s GDP and nearly 60 per cent of these migrant workers are either semi-skilled or unskilled who struggle every day to find the right job opportunity.
• The platform will connect job seekers, employers, government agencies, skill centres and external partners using new-age technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• The project would come up with a multilingual application that can be accessed via feature phones and help identify location-based jobs, skill development gaps.

Extra Shots:

NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog:

• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Chairperson: Narendra Modi.
• Chief Executive Officer(CEO):Amitabh Kant.
• Vice Chairperson: Rajiv Kumar.

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

U.S. Senate appoints Sethuraman Panchanathan as head of NSF

• The U.S. Senate has appointed Indian-American scientist Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan as the Director of the National Science Foundation(NSF).
• He will replace France Cordova, whose six-year term ended in March, as the 15th director of the NSF.
• He is expected to take office on July 6.
• Panchanathan is the second Indian-American ever to be nominated to the prestigious science position with the first being Dr Subra Suresh who served from October 2010 to March 2013.
• National Science Foundation is a top American body supporting fundamental research in non-medical fields of science and engineering.

Nirakar Pradhan takes over as PRMIA chief

• The Professional Risk Managers’ International Association has appointed Dr Nirakar Pradhan, CFA, as the Chief Executive Officer of its new India office.
• Pradhan has led teams at State Bank of India.
• Pradhan has led teams at State Bank of India and Generali Group in India and Europe.
• With 48 Chapters globally, PRMIA is a non-profit led by top professionals dedicated to promoting best practices in risk management.

Extra Shots:

PRMIA:

• Founded: 2002
• Headquarters location: Wilmington, Delaware, United States
• Subsidiary: Risk Management Initiative in Microfinance
• Type of business: Professional association

Vikram Pawah to head BMW Group India

• German luxury car maker BMW on Saturday appointed Vikram Pawah as the president of BMW Group India effective August 1, 2020, in addition to his current role as chief executive officer of BMW Group Australia and New Zealand.
• The appointment of Pawah comes almost two months after the demise of its previous India head Rudratej Singh (46).
• Pawah has been with the BMW Group since 2017, when he joined BMW Group India as the president.
• Pawah brings excellent preconditions to navigate BMW Group India in a challenging business situation.

Extra Shots:

BMW:

• Headquarters: Munich, Germany
• Founded: 7 March 1916, Munich, Germany
• Founders: Karl Rapp, Camillo Castiglioni, Gustav Otto, Franz Josef Popp

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Emergency Funds to Armed Forces of RS 500 Crore, Specialised Mountain Forces deployed at LAC

• Following the violent Galwan valley clash on 15th June 2020 and a six-week-long border standoff with the Chinese army, under emergency requirement procurement Rs 500 crore of funds was granted by the Government for the Armed Forces.
• With consultation with the Department of Military Affairs, the Indian Armed Forces will be allowed to make a purchase of any weapon under the sanctionamount.
• The weapon purchased under the sanctioned fund can be a new one that the armed forces feel they would require in case of a war or a weapon that is short in inventory.

Specialised Mountain Forces deployed

• To safeguard Indian territories from any cross-border aggression from the People’s Liberation Army of China, India has deployed its Specialised High Altitude Warfare Forces who are trained in guerrilla warfare and fighting along the 3,488 Km Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• The specialized Indian mountain troops are trained on the northern front.
• These forces go to the frontier when the red flag goes up. Over the decades these troops in the Himalayan States of India (Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh) have adapted themselves to the rarefied heights by developing the required skill sets and capabilities that are essential to have a pin-pointed accuracy for mountain fighting.

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Government to establish 1,000 district-level Khelo India Centres

• The Ministry of Sports has decided to establish 1,000 Khelo India Centers (KIC) at the district level across the country.
• These centers will either be run by a past champion or have them as coaches.
• For the financial year 2020-21, 100 such centres have been proposed.
• The move aims to tap the expertise of past sporting champions for grassroot-level training of athletes to ensure a sustained source of income in the sports ecosystem, for both the coach and the athlete.

Napoli wins its sixth Italian Cup title, beats Juventus in penalty shootout

• The football club Napoli has won the 2019-20 Coppa Italia cup after defeating Juventus with 4–2 on shootout penalties in the final after a goalless draw.
• This is the sixth time that Napoli has won the title. The last time it won was in 2014.

WEBPORTALS & APP  IN NEWS

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launches R&D Portal SATYABHAMA for AatmaNirbhar Bharat in Mining Advancement

• The Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi, launched a portal called SATYABHAMA.
• Objective: to promote research and development (R&D) in the mining and minerals sector, under the Science and Technology Programme Scheme of Ministry of Mines.
• SATYABHAMA stands for Science and Technology Yojana for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Mining Advancement.
• The Portal will allow online submission of project proposals along with monitoring of the projects and utilization of funds / grants.
• SATYABHAMA Portal can be accessed at research.mines.gov.in.
• It has been designed, developed and implemented by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Mines Informatics Division.

OBITUARY

Noted economist & member of 10th Finance Commission B P R Vithal passes away at 93

• Noted economist B P R Vithal, who served as a Member of the 10th Finance Commission, has passed away due to age-related ailment. He was 93.
• Vithal, a 1950-batch IAS officer, had also served as secretary, finance and planning, in the government of Andhra Pradesh from 1972 to 1982 and the deputy chairman of the State Planning Board.
• He was also chairman of the Expenditure Commission, Government of Kerala.

Former cricketer Rajinder Goel passes away

• Former Left-arm spinner Rajinder Goel passed away. Goel played 157 first-class matches, most of them for Haryana, and finished with 750 wickets. Rajinder Goel holds the record for many wickets taken in Ranji Trophy as he scalped 637, 107 quite S Venkataraghavan who is second on the list.
• Goel made his debut within the 1957-58 season and went on to play domestic cricket until the age of 44.
• In 2017, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) honoured Rajinder Goel with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Rajinder Goel went on to function the chairman of BCCI’s national junior selection committee and therefore the chairman of the Haryana selection committee.

Padma Shri awardee Vidyaben Shah passes away

• Padma Shri awardee and a social worker Vidyaben Shah passed away recently.
• She was a pioneer in the field of child welfare as she created the the first Bal Bhavan in Rajkot in the 1940s. She also set up the Mahatma Gandhi Sanskritik Kendra in the 1970s to facilitate the cultural exchange among city residents.
• Vidyaben Shah was awarded with the National Award for outstanding services in the field of child welfare, followed by Padma Shri award in 1992.
• She also became the first non-official to head the New Delhi Municipal Council in the 1970s.

Vera Lynn, singer and British forces’ ‘sweetheart,’ passes away

• British singer Vera Lynn, whose sentimental ballads during World War II provided the soundtrack for the Allied war effort, has died at the age of 103.
• Lynn’s two most famous songs, “We’ll Meet Again,” released in 1939 at the start of the war and “The White Cliffs of Dover,” recorded in 1942, created a patriotic image of a courageous and phlegmatic Britain that resonates with people in the UK even today.
• She was also the first English singer to make it to number one in the American music charts.

MISCELLANEOUS

India’s First Oral Vaccine for Moderate COVID-19 Cases gets Approval

• For the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 positive patients across the country, on 19th June 2020, for manufacturing and marketing of oral antiviral drug ‘Favipiravir (Fabiflu)’ was approved by the National Regulatory Authority for Indian pharmaceuticals -Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to Mumbai based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.
• The approval for the drug was given in India based on the global evidence of the ongoing clinical trial on 150 subjects.
• The drug must be strictly sold by the pharmacists to customers having a valid prescription.
• The drug has shown notable efficacy as per results from Russia and Japan. Japan and Russia have already approved the drug for COVID-19 treatment on 15th March and 1st June 2020 respectively.

Medication

• Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has assured the availability of the drugs in the next 7 to 10 days across the country.

Price:

• The price of each tablet will be Rs 103/-.
• The tablets will be available in a combined strip of 34.The cost of the strip will be Rs 3,500.
• The tablets will be available in a combined strip of 34. The cost of the strip will be Rs 3,500. Each tablet will be of 200 mg.

Doses:

• On the first day of treatment, the patient is advised to take 18 tablets (9 each in the morning and evening).
• From the second day onwards, 4 tablets each in the morning and evening.
• The company has stated that the treatment through Favipiravir could last up to14 days.

Age Group who can take

• The medication is for COVID-19 positive patients in the age group from 18 to 75 years having mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19.

Extra Shots:

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals

• CEO: Glenn Mario Saldanha
• Headquarters: Maharashtra
• Founder: Gracias Saldanha
• Founded: 1977

Stegodon Fossil discovered from Saharanpur estimated to be 5 to 8 Million Years Old

• Over decades, a number of richest fossil records in South Asia have been found at the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Sivalik range.
• This time, the researchers found a fossil of an extinct ancestor of Elephant, that is estimated to be around between 5 to 8 million old.
• The fossil was discovered in the state of Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur District’s Badshahi Bagh area.
• The fossil found during this remarkable discovery is said to be of a Stegodon (now extinct, a type of Elephant found until the late Pleistocene). Specimens of Stegodon were available at the Dehradun’s Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, the fossil discovered was compared with the specimen after a proper examination.
• With this discovery, it can be concluded that there was the existence of a dense forest in the Siwalik range millions of years back, it can also be stated that a lot of river and other water sources were also present in the area.

About the Newly Discovered Fossil

• The fossil was embedded in sedimentary rock-Sandstone.
• It was informed that the Stegodon Fossil discovered has nine well-developed ridges on its surface.
• The enamel of the molar is very thick while the length of the molar is approx 24 centimeters.
• The nature of the sandstone has characteristics of the middle Sivalik range as the lithology found embedded on the fossil is medium grained.

68 Million Years Old Egg discovered from Antarctica

• In 2011, on the Seymour Island of Antarctica, a group of scientists from South American Nation Chile discovered a fossil 200 meters away from the spot where the fossil of a 10-meter long Mosasaur (an ancient reptile) was unearthed.
• The fossil, since then was kept at a museum in Chile and was named ‘The Thing’ as for over the next 7 years scientists kept on trying to resolve the the football-sized mysterious fossil.
• Finally, on 17th June 2020, a study was published in the Journal Nature, according to which the fossil named “The Thing’ was the second-largest egg interms of size (29 by 20 centimeters) that has been discovered to date. It is the second largest to the Madagascan Elephant Bird (extinct) egg and also the largest soft-shelled egg on record.
• Scientists however in their study were not able to identify the animal that laid the egg.
• The animal that had laid the egg could be up to 17 meters tall and at least 7 meters long.
• There have been opinions from scientists that the fossil egg might belong to a Mosasaur, in this case then this could be the only Mosasaur fossil egg to have been discovered to date.
  

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