NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. MoHUA signs MoU with SIDBI for PM
SVANidhi Scheme implementation: Ministry of Housing
& Urban Affairs has signed an MoU with Small Industries Development Bank of
India for PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), a Special
Micro-Credit Facility for Street Vendors. According to the MoU, PM SVANidhi
Scheme will be implemented by SIDBI under the guidance of MoHUA. The credit
guarantee to the lending institutions would also be managed by the SIDBI
through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises. SIDBI will
also leverage the network of lending Institutions for the Scheme
implementation. The lending institutions will include Scheduled Commercials
Banks, Non-Bank Finance Companies, Regional Rural Banks, Co-operative Banks,
Small Finance Banks (SFBs), etc.
Note:
Union
Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs: Hardeep Singh Puri.
SIDBI
Headquarter: Lucknow; Chairman
& Managing Director of SIDBI: Mohammad Mustafa; SIDBI
2. Karnataka Government observes “Mask Day” on 18 June: Karnataka government observed the “Mask Day”
on 18 June 2020 to aware the people about the use of masks, sanitisers, washing
hands with soap in order to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Karnataka government organised a march from Vidhana Soudha to Cubbon Park which
featured the participation of public representatives, dignitaries and medical
staff. Through the march, the participants spread awareness among the people about
the national directives issued to contain the COVID-19. Wearing a mask is
mandatory in Karnataka. A fine of Rs 200 will be imposed for not wearing a mask
in public places.
Note: Chief Minister of Karnataka: B. S.
Yediyurappa; Governor: Vajubhai Vala.
3.
Mumbai gets ‘Air-Venti’ App to provide information on ICU beds, ventilators: Municipal
Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has launched a mobile application
“Air-Venti” to provide information on ICU beds, ventilators. Octaware
Technologies Limited, in partnership with Probity Soft Pvt Ltd, has developed
this mobile application for MCGM. ‘Air-Venti’ was launched by the civic body in
Mumbai and it aims to supply overall statistics of ICU beds and ventilators
that are occupied and vacant in both government and private hospitals. Besides
location map, ability to contact hospital through telephonic call and email is
also available. It can be downloaded from Google Play Store.
Note: Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Uddhav
Thackeray; Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
4.
Formal employment in India grew by 28.6% in 2019-20: EPFO payroll data
revealed the growth of formal employment in India by 28.6% in 2019-20. The
reason behind the growth is govt reforms like GST, fixed-term contracts and
lower exits by EPFO subscribers due to better PF returns. Tops sectors of
increased employment: Hospitality and financial institutions, followed by
textile sector. As per the EPFO data, net additions to EPFO is 78.58 lakh in
2019-20 compared to 61.12 lakh in 2018-19.
5.
International Workshop ion Good Governances Practices inaugurated: Union Minister of
State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh has
inaugurated 2-days International Workshop on 'Good Governance Practices in a
Pandemic for International Civil Servants'. It was organized by Indian
Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), MEA and NCGG, Department of
Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). 81 International Civil
Servants from 16 Countries including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, etc will participate
in this.
6.
India releases National Report on the state of Climate Crisis: India’s first ever
National Report on the state of the Climate Crisis has been released. The
report has been prepared under the aegis of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
with title “Assessment Of Climate Change Over The Indian Region”. The report
analyses where India stands regarding long-term changes in climate patterns,
and their attendant risks. Key findings
of the report:
(1) It revealed that India’s average
temperature has risen by 0.7 degrees Celsius between 1901-2018, citing the
emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) as key reason of the temperature rise.
(2) It also predicted two different
scenarios related to India’s temperature rise by 2099. In a best-case scenario
of immediate mitigation of emissions, India’s temperature will still rise by
2.7 degrees Celsius while in the worst-case scenario temperature will increase
by 4.4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
(3) About the monsoon, it shows that the
precipitation over north India has reduced by 6% between 1951-2015 because of
the polluting aerosol “brown cloud”. The monsoon is also expected to become
more extreme in the upcoming decades.
(4) It also predicts the April-June
heatwaves to become four times more frequent by 2099 as compared to that of
1976-2005.
(5) It stated that the sea level near
Mumbai is rising at the rate of 3 cm per decade while it is 5 cm per decade off
the Bengal coast.
Note: Union Minister of Earth Sciences:
Harsh Vardhan.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir Elected President of 75th UN General Assembly: Volkan Bozkır, a
veteran Turkish diplomat and parliamentarian was elected as the President of
the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He received 178 votes
and stood unopposed for the post. Bozkır is the first Turkish national who has
become the President of the General Assembly. He will take over the Presidency
from the incumbent Tijjani Muhammad-Bande in September 2020, for a duration of
one year, when the 75th session will resume. He is presently serving as a
Justice and Development Party lawmaker from Istanbul and head of the Turkish
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.
Note: United Nations General Assembly
Headquarters: New York, United States; United Nations General Assembly Founder:
United Nations; United Nations General Assembly Founded: 1945.
2. Two Indian Companies named in
WEF’s Technology Pioneers of 2020: World
Economic Forum (WEF) has announced its 2020 cohort of Technology Pioneers. WEF
has unveiled 100 new tech firms awardees which are leaders in carbon capture,
alternative meat and circular economies, while some of them aims to address
food security, financial access etc. The 20th cohort of Technology Pioneers
comprised 2 Indian firms namely: ZestMoney and Stellapps. These firms which
featured in the list, will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum
workshops, events as well as high-level discussions throughout their two years
in the community. 2020 Technology Pioneers is the 20th edition of the annual
list and comprises the names of companies from around the world that are poised
to have a significant impact on business and society by addresing global issues
with cutting-edge technology. Of the 100 companies in the 2020 class,
one-fourth are led by female founders.
Note:
ZestMoney: AI based digital lending platform
Stellapps:
IoT for digitization of dairy supply chain
3.
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict: 19th
June: Each
year June 19 is observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual
Violence in Conflict. The day was proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly
on 19 June 2015. 2020 marks the sixth year of celebration of the day. The day
aims to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual
violence, honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world
and pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and
lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes
4.
World Sickle Cell Day: 19th June: World Sickle Cell Day is celebrated on 19
June every year to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease, its treatment
methods and to get effective control over this disease worldwide The day was
recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008. First WSCD was
celebrated in 2009.
Note:
cell disease is a blood disorder which affects the red blood cells
(RBCs) of the body and is inherited from the parents.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Aizawl’s Rajiv Gandhi stadium to be upgraded as KISCE: Union Sports
Minister Kiren Rijiju has announced the upgradation of Aizawl’s Rajiv Gandhi
Stadium, Mizoram as Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) under Khelo
India Scheme. It will enhance the existing talent in the region towards India’s
dream of excellence in Olympics. KISCE is a new initiative in which Ministry
will establish or upgrade stadium as Centre of excellence in each state and UT
for robust sport ecosystem
Note: Mizoram Governor: P. S. Sreedharan
Pillai; Chief Minister: Zoramthanga
2. World 100m champion Christian
Coleman suspended: World 100m champion sprinter
Christian Coleman has been suspended temporarily for missing doping tests by
AIU. He was not available during the anti-doping test in December and even
earlier. Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, 3 whereabouts failures (missing
a test or failing to file paperwork on time) is deemed a doping offence
punishable by a 2 year suspension. He won gold in 60 m at 2018 IAAF World
Indoor Championships. He was also won gold for 100m in Doha, Qatar.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
ICICI HFC launched SARAL scheme for affordable housing loan: A special
affordable housing loan scheme has been launched by the ICICI Home Finance. The
scheme aims to fund homes in urban and rural areas. The scheme has been
developed especially for women, lower, middle income customers and economically
weaker sections having maximum household income up to Rs 6 lakh annually. The
housing loan scheme provides affordable housing loans up to Rs 35 lakh at an
interest rate starting from 7.98% for a maximum tenure of 20 years.
Pre-existing loans can also be transferred in this scheme.
Note: ICICI Home Finance Company Limited
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; ICICI Home Finance Company Limited Chairman:
Anup Bagchi; ICICI Home Finance Company Limited Managing Director(MD) &
Chief Executive Officer(CEO): Anirudh Kamani.
2.
Karnataka Bank launches health insurance to cover COVID-19 pandemic: A special health
insurance policy has been launched by the Karnataka Bank in association with
Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Ltd to cover the uncertainties posed
by COVID-19 pandemic. Under this health insurance policy, an individual can
avail health cover for COVID-19 at a nominal premium of Rs 399, with the
validity period of 120 days. The health insurance policy will cover COVID-19
pandemic related health expenses such as in-patient hospital expenses of up to
Rs 3.00 lakh, outpatient treatment expenses of Rs 3000 and will also offer a
sum of Rs 1000 per day towards expenses incurred towards 14 days of quarantine
at a government or military hospital.
Note: MD & CEO of Karnataka Bank:
Mahabaleshwara M.S.
3.
TATA AIA Life ties up with East Consultancy for paperless e-KYC services: Tata AIA Life
Insurance (Tata AIA Life) ties up with East Consultancy Services for
Aadhaar-based paperless offline e-KYC service amid COVID-19. E-KYC will provide
seamless customer on-boarding during online application process for life
insurance solutions facilitating remote purchase of insurance from end-to-end
digital sales system. It will also extend the service for verification of
agents as part of Know Your Agent (KYA) requirement.
Note: Tata AIA Life Insurance CEO & MD:
Rishi Srivastava
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
ADB Forecast India’s GDP at -4% for FY’21; 5% for FY’22: India’s economy is
forecast to contract by 4 percent in 2020-21, as per the latest Asian
Development Outlook (ADO) report of the Asian Development Bank released on 18
June 2020, due to the adverse effect of the coronavirus pandemic. As per ADB,
countries in Developing Asia (40 members of ADB) will barely grow in 2020 with
overall growth rate of 0.1% which is the lowest growth since 1961. For FY2021,
ending March 2022, India’s GDP is projected to grow at 5%.
Note:
President of Asian Development Bank: Masatsugu Asakawa; Headquarters: Manila
2.
CCI approves acquisition of Metso Minerals business by Outotec: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has
approved the acquisition of Metso Oyj’s (“Metso”) minerals business by Outotec
Oyj (“Outotec”) under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. According to
the acquisition rules, all such assets, rights, debts, as well as the
liabilities of Metso that relate to, or primarily serve its minerals business
would be acquired by Outotec. Outotec & Metso are public limited liability
companies incorporated and registered under the laws of Finland. The new name
of the entity after acquisition will be 'Metso Outotec'.
OBITUARIES
1.
Malayalam director K R Sachidanandan passes away: Malayalam
screenwriter and director K R Sachidanandan (48 years) passes away in Thrissur,
Kerela due to cardiac arrest. He made his debut as a screenwriter with film
Chocolate in 2007 along with Sethu and wrote for films like Robin Hood, Makeup
Man, Seniors and Doubles along with Sethu. He went solo writer for Run Baby
Run, Chettayees, Ramaleela, Sherlock Toms and Driving Licence. He made his
debut as director with Anarkali in 2015. His last film: Ayyappanum Koshiyum
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