NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
India slips two spots on 17th Sustainable Development Goals report: India’s rank has
slipped by two places from last year to 117 on the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) adopted as a part of the 2030 agenda by 193 United Nations member
states in 2015. India ranks below four South Asian countries: Bhutan, Nepal, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh.
The State of India’s Environment Report
2021 revealed that India’s rank was 115 last year and dropped by two places
primarily because of major challenges like ending hunger and achieving food
security (SDG 2), achieving gender equality (SDG 5) and building resilient
infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and
fostering innovation (SDG 9) remain in the country.
2.
Assam govt names Raimona reserve forest sixth national park: Raimona in
Kokrajhar district has become Assam’s sixth national park. The 422 sqft
wildlife habitat in Kokrajhar district adjoins the western-most buffer to Manas
Tiger Reserve. The five national parks that existed prior to the 422 sq. km
Raimona are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa.
The Pekua River defines Raimona’s southern
boundary. Raimona is an integral part of the 2,837 sq. km Manas Biosphere
Reserve and the Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve. Such secured transboundary
ecological landscape will ensure the long-term conservation of endemic species
like the golden langur, the mascot of Bodoland Territorial Council and
endangered species such as the Asian elephant, the Bengal tiger and varied
other flora and faunal species it support
Note: Assam Governor: JagdishMukhi; Assam
Chief Minister: HimantaBiswaSarma.
3.
Sanjeev Sahai to be new chairman of oil regulator PNGRB: Senior
administrator and former power secretary, Sanjeev NandanSahai is set to take
over as next chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).
A search committee headed by V K Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI Aayog,
cleared the name of Sahai. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is a
statutory body in India.
Note: Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory
Board HQ: New Delhi.
4.
Bengaluru international airport achieves net energy neutral status: The Kempegowda
International Airport here has achieved net energy neutral status in the
Financial Year 2020-21 as part of its sustainability goals. Bengaluru
international airport (BIAL) has been able to save nearly 22 lakh units of
energy in the Financial Year 2020-21, enough to power nearly 9,000 houses for a
month.
According to BIAL, these measures were
achieved through solar installation at rooftops of utility buildings, car
parks, ground-mounted solar installation at the airside, rooftops of cargo
buildings and project offices. It has also begun purchasing 40 million units of
solar power through open access and wind power purchase through open access.
Adoption of LED and optimal use of natural light contributed to energy-neutral
status.
5.
Punjab tops performance grading index in school education: Punjab, which has
improved its showing from the 13th position it attained in 2018-19, topped the
charts this time among all the states and union territories with a score of 929
out of 1,000, followed by Chandigarh (912) and Tamil Nadu (906). The
performance grading index ranks the states on a set of 70 parameters relating
to learning outcomes and quality, access, infrastructure and facilities, equity
and governance processes to catalyse transformational change in the field of
school education.
Note: Punjab CM: Captain Amarinder Singh;
Punjab Governor: V.P. Singh Badnore.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1.
Maldivian minister Abdullah Shahid elected President of 76th UNGA: Maldivian foreign
minister, Abdullah Shahid was elected President of the 76th United Nations
General Assembly (PGA) with an overwhelming majority. He garnered 143 votes in
favour with 48 against – that gave him victory by a three-fourths majority. The
post of the UN General Assembly President rotated annually among regional
groupings. The 76th session (2021-22) is the turn of the Asia-Pacific group and
this is the first time Maldives will be occupying the office of the PGA.
The PGA’s office is the highest office in
the UN System and reflects the collective goodwill of the 193 Member States of
the UN. Both Maldives and Afghanistan have friendly ties with India. India’s
vote however went to the Maldives since New Delhi had committed support to
Shahid prior to Rassoul entering the fray.
Note: President of the Maldives: Ibrahim
Mohamed Solih; Capital of Maldives: Male; Currency of the Maldives: Maldivian
Rufiyaa.
2.
THE Asia University Rankings 2021 released: Times Higher Education Asia
university rankings 2021, three Indian universities secured positions in the
top 100 list. IISc Bangalore, IIT Ropar and IIT Indore have secured ranks among
the top 100 universities in Asia. Like last year, not a single Indian varsity
made it to the elite top 10. IISc Bangalore ranked at 37th position. IIT Ropar
is placed at 55th rank and IIT Indore at 78th rank among the top 100
universities.
Tsinghua University, China has gained the
first position in the Asia university rankings 2021. The second place is also
secured by China’s Peking University. The third and fifth ranks have been
secured by Singapore varsities. Whereas, the University of Hong Kong is at
fourth rank.
3.
International Albinism Awareness Day: 13th June: The International
Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) is celebrated annually on June 13 to celebrate
the human rights of persons with albinism worldwide. Each year events are held
to educate people and celebrate people with albinism who continue to suffer all
types of human rights violations. “Strength Beyond All Odds” is the theme for
this year’s International Albinism Awareness Day.
History of International Albinism
Awareness Day: In
the mid-2000s, there had been reports of violent attacks on and murders of
people with albinism in Tanzania. The attacks were linked to beliefs that
people with albinism had magical powers, so they were preyed upon for parts to
be used as lucky charms and in occult rituals. When in 2015 around 70 were
killed and many more were harmed, the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) and other
NGOs lobbied for the rights of people with albinism. This led to the
celebration of the first Albino Day on May 4, 2006. The day was finally made
official when the UN’s General Assembly adopted on December 18, 2014, a
resolution that proclaimed June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day with
effect from 2015.
What is albinism: Albinism is a
rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited difference present at birth. In
almost all types of albinism, both parents must carry the gene for it to be
passed on, even if they do not have albinism themselves. The condition is found
in both sexes regardless of ethnicity and in all countries of the world.
Albinism results in a lack of pigmentation (melanin) in the hair, skin and
eyes, causing vulnerability to the sun and bright light. As a result, almost
all people with albinism are visually impaired and are prone to developing skin
cancer. There is no cure for the absence of melanin that is central to
albinism.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Sunil Chhetri surpasses Argentina’s Lionel Messi: Sunil Chhetri
surpasses Argentina’s Lionel Messi and he has become the second-highest active
international goal-scorer with 74 strikes. He made this record in a joint
preliminary qualifying round match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC
Asian Cup. He is currently behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (103) in the
active international goal-scorer list. Chhetri also helped India register its
rst win in six years in World Cup qualiers. Chhetri is just a goal away from
entering world football’s all-time top-10. Sunil Chhetri is an Indian
professional footballer. He is popularly known as Captain Fantastic.
2.
Chris Broad to be match referee for World Test Championship final: ICC Elite Panel
match referee, Chris Broad will oversee the World Test Championship (WTC) final
between India and New Zealand, scheduled to commence at the Ageas Bowl in
Southampton from June 18. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced
the officials for the match. ICC Elite Panel’s Richard Illingworth and Michael
Gough will be the on-field umpires.
Note: Chairman of ICC: Greg Barclay; CEO of
ICC: Manu Sawhney; Headquarters of ICC: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
NITI Aayog recommends privatisation of Central Bank, Indian Overseas Bank: NITI Aayog has
recommended divesting government stake in the Central Bank of India and Indian
Overseas Bank (IOB) as part of the privatisation initiative announced in the
Union Budget. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, had
announced privatising two public sector banks (PSBs) and one general insurance
company in 2021-22. As per the new PSE (Public Sector Enterprise) policy for
‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, NITI Aayog is entrusted with the task to suggest names
of PSUs in strategic sectors to be merged, privatised, or made subsidiaries of
other PSUs.
The Department of Investment and Public
Asset Management (DIPAM) and Department of Financial Services (DFS) will
examine the proposal and discuss legislative changes needed for the
privatisation of banks. The finalisation of privatisation and disinvestment of
public sector enterprises is a multi-layered process. After a Core Group of
Secretaries, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, clears the suggested names, the
proposal will go to Alternative Mechanism (AM) for its approval and eventually
to the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister for a final nod.
Note: NITI Aayog Formed: 1 January 2015;
NITI Aayog Headquarters: New Delhi; NITI Aayog Chairperson: Narendra Modi.
2.
Hitendra Dave appointed as HSBC India CEO: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Ltd. (HSBC) announced the appointment of Hitendra Dave as Chief
Executive Officer of HSBC India subject to receipt of regulatory approval. He
has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer effective June 7, 2021.
Dave succeeds SurendraRosha who will be moving to Hong Kong as the co-chief
executive of HSBC Asia-Pacific.
Note: HSBC CEO: Noel Quinn; HSBC
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom; HSBC Founder: Thomas Sutherland; HSBC
Founded: 3 March 1865, Hong Kong.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
World Bank approves $500 mn program to help boost India’s MSME sector: The World Bank’s
Board of Executive Directors has approved a USD 500 million programs to support
India’s nationwide initiative to revitalise the MSME sector, which has been
heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The MSME sector is the backbone of
India’s economy, contributing 30% of India’s GDP and 4% of exports.The USD 500 million Raising and Accelerating Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Performance (RAMP) Program is the World Bank’s
second intervention in this sector, the first being the USD 750 million MSME
Emergency Response Program, approved in July 2020 to address the immediate
liquidity and credit needs of millions of viable MSMEs severely impacted by the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Arunachal Pradesh’s Water Burial bags best film National Award: Arunachal Pradesh’s
Water Burial has bagged the best film National Award on environment
conservation at 67th National Films Awards 2021. The film, which is directed by
independent filmmaker Shantanu Sen.Water Burial is produced by AM Television.
Inspired by the popular Assamese novel Saba Kota Manuh, which is written by
YesheDorjeeThongchi, Water Burial is in Monpa dialect and has an intriguing
storyline around a dark ritual of a local tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.
DEFENCE
1.
Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar assumes Charge as DG Naval Operations: Vice Admiral Rajesh
Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM has assumed charge as Director General Naval Operations.
The Flag Officer is a specialist in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and has served
on frontline warships of the Navy as ASW Officer and later as the Executive
Officer and Principal Warfare Officer of Guided Destroyer INS Mysore. He has
commanded the missile corvette INS Kora, the missile frigate INS Shivalik and
the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.
Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh; Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950.
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