1.
India Launches Global Energy Initiative “Mission Innovation CleanTech
Exchange”:
The Governments of 23 nations, including India, have collectively launched a
bold new plan called Mission Innovation 2.0, to catalyze action and spearhead a
decade of innovation for global investment in clean energy research,
development and demonstrations. Mission Innovation 2.0 is the second phase of
the global Mission Innovation initiative, launched alongside the Paris
Agreement at the 2015 COP21 conference. The new initiative was launched at the
Innovating to Net Zero Summit, hosted by Chile.
Purpose: To make clean
energy affordable, attractive and accessible throughout this decade; to
accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement; and Net-zero pathways.
Plan: Under this new MI
2.0, a series of new Missions will be undertaken, which will be supported by a
new global Innovation Platform to strengthen confidence and awareness in
emerging innovations and maximize the impact of national investments.
India’s Effort: As a part of this
Platform, India has launched the Mission Innovation CleanTech Exchange, to create
a network of incubators across member countries. The network will provide
access to the expertise and market insights needed to support new technologies
to access new markets globally.
2. PM
Modi Launches Three E-100 Ethanol Dispensing Stations in Pune: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi virtually addressed the World Environment Day event, which was
jointly organised by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. During the event, PM Modi
also released the “Report of the Expert Committee on Road Map for ethanol
blending in India 2020-2025”. The theme of the report is ‘promotion of biofuels
for a better environment’.Apart from this:
(1) PM Modi also launched a Pilot Project
of E 100 ethanol dispensing stations at three locations in Pune, for the
production and distribution of ethanol across the country, because ethanol has
a better impact on the environment as well as on the lives of farmers.
(2) The government has reset the target to
achieve 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025. Earlier this target was
to be met by 2030.
(3) As a part of WED 2021, the Government
of India has released an E-20 notification, directing Oil Companies to sell
ethanol-blended petrol with a percentage of ethanol up to 20% from April 01,
2023; and BIS Specifications for higher ethanol blends E12 & E15.
3.
Kerala launches ‘Knowledge Economy Mission’: Kerala government has launched
‘Knowledge Economy Mission’ to boost job prospects in the state by supporting
knowledge workers. The initiative was announced in State Budget on June 4. It
was being spearheaded by Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council
(K-DISC) and they will submit a comprehensive project report before July 15.Under
the project:
(1) The project will be launched to bring
ongoing efforts of providing employment to educated people and support
‘knowledge workers’ under a single programme.
(2) A plan will be made to provide basic
facilities and social security system for knowledge workers who are working
close to their homes and interacting with employers.
(3) For implementation and funding
purposes, a ‘knowledge economy fund’ will be created.
(4) In order to promote skills &
strengthen the higher education system and for technological transformation,
the knowledge economy fund was hiked from ₹200 crore to ₹300 crores.
Note: Kerala CM: PinarayiVijayan; Kerala
Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.
4.
CBSE to introduce coding, data science in curriculum: The Central Board
of Secondary Education (CBSE) has collaborated with Microsoft to introduce
Coding as a new subject for students of Class 6-8 and Data Science as the new
subject for Class 8-12 in the 2021-2022 academic session. Both these new
skilling subjects are being launched in line with the National Education Policy
(NEP) 2020.
Coding and Data Science Curriculum are
focused on building critical thinking, computational skills, problem-solving
skills, creativity and hands-on exposure to new technologies. In keeping with
the NEP 2020, the introduction of these courses aims to build next-generation
skills in students. The new course curriculum on coding and data science that
we have developed in partnership with Microsoft will equip students with
future-ready learning skills. This is an important step to enable self-reliance
in our students and equip them with skills like problem-solving, logical
thinking, collaboration and design thinking that are critical for success.
Note: CBSE Chairman: Manoj Ahuja; CBSE Head
Office: Delhi; CBSE Founded: 3 November 1962.
Microsoft CEO: Satya Nadella; Microsoft
Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.
5.
Ladakh LG RK Mathur Launches “YounTab Scheme”: The Lt Governor of
Ladakh, RK Mathur launched a scheme called ‘YounTab’, under which 12,300
tablets would be distributed among the students in the Union Territory. As part
of the first phase of the YounTab Scheme, MrMathur distributed the tablets to
the students of Classes 9 to 12 standards.
Under this scheme: A total of 12,300
students from Class 6th to 12th of government schools will benefit. The tablets
will be pre-loaded with online and offline content, including textbooks, video
lectures and online class applications. The main goal of the YounTab scheme is
to encourage digital learning, bridge the digital divide between connected and
unconnected regions and mitigate the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1.
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: 2021-2030: The United Nations
Decade on Ecosystem Restoration has been officially launched, which will run
from 2021 to 2030. United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will be
co-led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the UN (FAO). It was proclaimed by the United Nations General
Assembly in a 2019 resolution.
Purpose:
(1) Protection and revival of millions of
hectares of ecosystems all around the world for the benefit of people and
nature. This in turn will contribute to the achievement of all the Sustainable
Development Goals.
(2) A Multi-Partner Trust Fund has also
been launched for the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. (3) Germany is the first
country to provide funding of Euro 14 million towards this fund.
(4) In order to support the launch of the
UN Decade, a report has also been released which defines the need of having
such a global restoration effort.
Note: United Nations Headquarters in New
York, USA; Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
2.
World Day Against Child Labour: 12th June: World Day Against Child Labour is
observed globally on 12th June every year. According to the International
Labour Organization (ILO), there are about 152 million children globally who
are engaged in child labour, 72 million of whom are in hazardous work. This
year’s World Day Against Child Labour focuses on action taken for the 2021
International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour. The theme of this
year’s World Day Against Child Labour is Act now: End child labour!. It is the
first World Day since the universal ratification of the ILO’s Convention No.
182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and takes place at a time when the
COVID-19 crisis threatens to reverse years of progress in tackling the problem.
About World Day Against Child Labour: The
International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child
Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the worldwide extent of kid labour and
therefore the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June,
this Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations,
civil society, also as many people from around the world to spotlight the
plight of kid labourers and what are often done to assist them.
Note: Headquarters of International Labour
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland; President of International Labour
Organization: Guy Ryder; International Labour Organization Founded: 1919.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Oman to host inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup in 2024: Oman has been named
as the host of the inaugural International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey5s
World Cup. The FIH said the men’s and women’s events will take place in Oman’s
capital city Muscat in January 2024. The governing body said its Executive Board
named Oman as host, after a recommendation from the organisation’s Events
Bidding Task Force. The FIH Executive Board announced the launch of the
Hockey5s World Cup in 2019. The launch comes as Hockey 5s becomes an
increasingly popular format of the sport, played on a smaller pitch and which
has featured at the last two Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Note: Oman Capital: Muscat; Oman Currency:
Omani rial.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
RBI imposes penalty on BoI, PNB totallingRs 6 crore: The RBI has imposed
a penalty aggregating to Rs 6 crores on Bank of India and Punjab National Bank
for contravention of norms, including one related to “Frauds – Classification
and Reporting”. A penalty of Rs 4 crores has been imposed on the Bank of India
and Rs 2 crores on Punjab National Bank. The bank had also conducted a review
and submitted a Fraud Monitoring Report (FMR) dated January 1, 2019, pertaining
to the detection of fraud in an account. In both cases, notices were issued to
show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on them for such violations
of the directions.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
NTPC Ltd. Joins UN’s CEO Water Mandate for Water Conservation: India’s largest
power utility, NTPC Ltd, under the Ministry of Power, has become a signatory to
the prestigious UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate, that focus on efficient
water management. The initiative also provides a platform for companies to partner
with like-minded businesses, UN agencies, public authorities, civil society
organizations, and other key stakeholders. The CEO Water Mandate is an
initiative by the UN Global Compact, designed to assist companies in the
development, implementation, and disclosure of comprehensive water strategies
and policies, to better their water and sanitation agendas as part of long term
Sustainable Development Goals.
Note: NTPC Chairman and Managing Director:
Shri Gurdeep Singh; NTPC Founded: 1975; NTPC Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Thomas Vijayan Wins Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2021: Kerala-based Thomas
Vijayan, who is now settled in Canada, has won the 2021 Nature TTL Photography
Awards for his photo of an Orangutan clinging to a tree. The photograph is
titled ‘The World is Going Upside Down’. Vijayan was adjudged as the overall
winner of the competition from over 8,000 entries for Nature TTL Photographer
of the Year 2021, which carries a grand prize of 1,500 pounds (Rs.1.5 lakh). Nature
TTL is the world’s leading online nature photography resource.
DEFENCE
1. US
to hand over three MH-60 ‘Romeo’ multi-role choppers to India: The Indian Navy is
set to receive its first set of multi-role helicopters as America is set to
hand over three MH-60 Romeo helicopters to the force in the United States in
July. The first batch of Indian pilots has also reached the US for training on
the helicopters which would be arriving in India next year in July. India and
the US had signed over-Rs 16,000 crore deal to buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters
from Lockheed Martin in 2020 under fast track procedures on a
government-to-government deal to hasten the process.
About the Romeo:
(1) The 24 MH-60 Romeos would be equipped
with multi-mode radars and night-vision devices as well as armed with Hellfire
missiles, torpedoes and precision-guided weaponry.
(2) The helicopters are designed to operate
from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.
(3) The choppers are designed for hunting
submarines as well as knocking out ships and conducting search-and-rescue
operations at sea.
(4) India and the US are also working on finalising a deal for buying 30 Predator drones to enhance the strike capabilities of the three defence forces.
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