NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Government
launched the Bharat 6G Alliance: The Department of
Telecommunications has launched Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) to
drive innovation and collaboration in next-generation wireless technology.
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) is a collaborative platform consisting of public
and private companies, academia, research institutions, and standards
development organizations. The website for Bharat6G Alliance has been also
launched. Bharat 6G Alliance will forge coalitions and synergies with
other 6G Global Alliances.
2. PM
Modi inaugurates Sai Hira Global Convention Centre in Andhra Pradesh: PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Sai Hira Global Convention
Centre in Puttaparthi in Satya Sai district in Andhra Pradesh via video
conferencing. The inauguration witnessed the presence of prominent dignitaries
and devotees from around the world. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has
constructed a new facility at Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi. Prasanthi
Nilayam is the main ashram of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The Convention
Centre was donated by philanthropist Ryuko Hira
3. Meesho
collaborates with IISc's lab for research in generative AI: Softbank-backed e-commerce platform Meesho has signed
a memorandum of understanding with the Vision & AI Lab of
the Indian Institute of Science for one year. Aim: To collaborate in the
area of generative artificial intelligence The goal of this partnership is
to foster innovation in generative artificial intelligence and
multimodal large language models in the e-commerce industry, thus enhancing
user experience.
4. Election Commission launches web portal for
Contribution Reports: Political parties will now be able to file
their financial accounts online to the EC. The Commission has
launched a web portal for filing of Contribution Reports, Audited Annual
Accounts and Election Expenditure Statements by Political Parties. These
financial statements are required to be submitted by political parties to the
poll body from time to time as per the Representation of People’s Act and
transparency guidelines. The facility has been created to facilitate political
parties in overcoming the difficulties in the physical filing of reports and to
ensure the timely filing of financial statements. The online availability of
the data is expected to enhance the level of compliance and transparency. The
portal also has a facility for sending reminders in the form of messages on the
registered mobile number and registered emails of the authorized
representatives of the political party. The Poll Panel has said the political
parties not wishing to file the financial report through online mode will have
to convey the reasons for not filing online to it in writing and may continue
to file its reports in hard copy along with CDs and Pen drives.
5. DAY-NRLM launches eSARAS mobile App: The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural
Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched the eSARAS mobile App to
support marketing for products made by women of Self-help Groups (SHGs). eSARAS
is an e-commerce mobile app that provides a platform for marketing handicrafts
and hand-looms made by SHG Didis. The eSARAS fulfillment centre will be managed
by the Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC), a
not-for-profit company constituted jointly by the Ministry of Rural Development
and Tata Trust. This fulfillment centre will be used for processing, packaging
and shipping of products that customers purchase through the eSARAS portal and
eSARAS mobile app. It will handle the logistics required to bring an online
order to a customer’s doorstep.
6. India’s first ‘Police Drone Unit’ launched in Chennai: Greater Chennai Police has established a
‘Drone Police Unit’ to assist cops in aerial surveillance. This will
particularly be helpful in case of large gatherings, real-time checking of
vehicle registration data and spotting of suspects. According to the police, a
total of nine drones under three categories are available in this unit: Quick
Response Surveillance Drones (6), Heavy Lift Multirotor Drone (1) and
Long-Range Survey Wing Place (2). These are all equipped with built-in
artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and can be operated up to a distance
of 5-10 km from the ground station. These drones equipped with AI technology
can accurate estimate crowds during festivals or other gatherings, thereby
enabling police to correctly plan crowd control strategies. Also, the drones
are equipped with ANPR cameras which are capable of doing real-time checking
with the vehicles registration database and spot suspects, stolen vehicles. The
Heavy Lift Drone, equipped with thermal cameras, is capable of detecting and
rescuing people caught in sea waves by deploying life jackets, even during the
night.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Govt
organising international conference on green hydrogen ecosystem: Union Power Minister R. K. Singh has inaugurated the International
Conference on Green Hydrogen 2023, which is being organized in New Delhi
from 5-7 July 2023. Aim: To discuss recent advances and emerging
technologies in the entire green hydrogen value chain It is
being organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas, CSIR, and Office of Principal Scientific Advisor
to the Government of India in collaboration with CII.
2. Iran
becomes a new permanent member of SCO:
Iran has become the new permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO) at an India-hosted virtual summit of the grouping.
With the addition of Iran as a new member, the total membership of the SCO
reaches nine. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the
presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and
Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became permanent members of SCO in 2017. SCO
headquarters: Beijing, China
3. China's
Qu-Dongyu re-elected as head of FAO: China's
QU Dongyu has been re-elected as Director-General of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for a second
term. In the ballot of FAO member countries, Qu received a total of 168 out of
182 votes deposited. His new term will run from 1 August 2023 to 31 July
2027. He was elected as FAO Director-General for the first time in 2019. Under
the leadership of QU, the World Food Forum (WFF) was created in 2021.
4. ICFA,
RAKEZ signs MoU to enhance food and agriculture collaboration: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and the Indian Chamber of
Food and Agriculture (ICFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
Aim: To promote mutual growth and development in the food and agriculture
sectors of the UAE and India The agreement strengthens the strategic
collaboration between the two countries. The partnership aims to facilitate
knowledge exchange, trade promotion, investment, and research and development
collaboration.
5. Lt
Gen MU Nair appointed as the Head of National Cyber Coordination Centre: Lt Gen MU Nair has been appointed as the Head of the National
Cyber Coordination Centre, after replacing Lt Gen (ret.) Dr. Rajesh Pant. Additionally,
he has served as the additional director general, head of signal intelligence,
chief of staff of a corps, and command Previously, Lt Gen Nair served as Army
Headquarters' chief signal officer He is a distinguished National Defence
Academy alumni
Nair
has extensive knowledge of both domestic and international communication
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. India
beat Kuwait to lift SAFF Championship title for 9th time: India defeated Kuwait 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out to lift
the SAFF Championships trophy 2023 held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in
Bengaluru, Karnataka. India recorded its win for the ninth
time in the SAFF Championships trophy. Goalkeeper Gurpreet
Singh turned out as the hero for the Indian side, saving the final kick
from the Kuwaiti captain. In the semi-final, India defeated Lebanon while
Kuwait defeated Bangladesh 1-0 in the other last-four clash.
2. Senior
Men’s Cricket Selection Committee appoints Ajit Agarkar as Chairman: Former Indian cricketer, Ajit Agarkar has been appointed
as chairman of the Senior Men’s Cricket Selection Committee. The Selection
Committee now consists of Ajit Agarkar, Shiv Sundar Das, Subroto Banerjee,
Salil Ankola, and Sridharan Sharath. Ajit Agarkar represented India in 26
Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20Is, in addition to playing 110 first-class, 270
List A, and 62 T20 matches. He also held the record for being the fastest to
reach 50 ODI wickets for a decade.
3. HESS Triveni Continental Kings crowned champions of
Global Chess League: Triveni Continental Kings were
crowned champions of the inaugural Global Chess League after
defeating Mumba Masters 2-0 in the final. The Kings finished the league stage
with 15 points, two points ahead of Mumba Masters The final was played in a
best-of-three format, with each team playing two rapid games. The Kings won the
first rapid game, with Levon Aronian defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave The
winner was decided through three stages of tie-breaks. After two rounds of
rapid ending in a draw, another two rounds of blitz were played, but still
finished with draws. The champion was ultimately decided in a series of
sudden-death blitz games where the decisive outcome came in the fourth game. With
this crucial victory, Bjerre not only clinched the title for his team but also
won the $500,000 prize. The overall prize fund for the tournament was a
stunning $1 million.
4. Haryana wins 6th Youth Women’s National Boxing
Championships: Haryana has won
the 6th Youth Women’s National Boxing Championships in Bhopal,
Madhya Pradesh. Haryana finished with a total of 13 medals, including five
gold, four silver, and four bronze Uttarakhand and Delhi claimed the second and
third spots with 32 and 20 points respectively. Led by 2 times Asian Junior
Champion Nikita Chand, Uttarakhand won 3 gold and 1 silver medal. Delhi ended
their campaign with 3 silver and 1 bronze medal. Haryana’s Priya (57kg) was
adjourned best boxer due to her phenomenal display in the 57kg category while
Madhya Pradesh’s Anjali Singh won the most promising boxer award
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Indian
Overseas Bank unveils RuPay Select Debit card, luxury benefits: Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has launched a new RuPay Select
Debit card, to provide luxury, convenience, and security, all in one card.
Eligibility Criteria: One is required to have a savings account or a
certificate of deposit with IOB Maintaining an average daily balance of ₹ 1
lakh The cash withdrawal limit is set to ₹50,000. The daily limit for usage in
merchant establishments (PoS) is set at ₹ five lakh. Daily usage limit in
e-commerce platforms: up to ₹3,50,000
2. India
doubles its share of global commercial services exports: Report: According to a World Bank and WTO report, India has doubled its
share of global commercial services exports to 4.4% in 2022 from 2% in 2005. Report
title: Trade in services for development The report highlighted that China
has also doubled its share of global commercial services exports from 2005 to
2022, from 3% to 5.4%. India, South Africa, and Türkiye, jobs directly linked
to cross-border services exports account for more than 10% of total services
sector jobs
3. World Bank approves USD 1.5 bn financing for India’s
low-carbon transition: World Bank’s board of executive directors has
approved $1.5 billion in financing to accelerate India’s development of
low-carbon energy. The financing will help India promote low-carbon energy by
scaling up renewable energy, developing green hydrogen, and stimulating climate
finance for low-carbon energy investments. Centre has set a target of achieving
500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 and reaching net zero by
2070. Further, recently the Indian government launched the much-anticipated
incentive scheme for the production of green hydrogen worth over ₹17,000 crore.
The ‘First Low-Carbon Energy Programmatic Development Policy Operation’, the
first in a series of two envisaged operations, will support India in developing
green hydrogen. The program will support the successful implementation of the
National Green Hydrogen Mission that aims to stimulate $100 billion in private
sector investment by 2030,”
4. Indian Bank rolls out digital services under ‘Project
WAVE’ initiative: Indian Bank, in
partnership with National E-Governance Service Limited (NeSL), has rolled
out e-BG (electronic bank guarantee) services under Project WAVE to
reduce the number of old paper-based process. CEO and Managing Director of
Indian Bank, S L Jain has launched the digital service at an event in Chennai. The
e-BG rollout will reduce the turn-around time of the bank issuance and delivery
to the beneficiary within few minutes from the 3-4 working days. In addition,
e-BG by Indian Bank would replace physical stamp paper and physical signatures
of customers by e-signature and e-stamps. Besides, Indian Bank has also
introduced a new facility under Project WAVE, to ensure fully end-to-end
digitally pre-approved business loans, for easy and smooth loan process. The
facility is available to process a loan of ₹25 lakh.
5. SBI appoints Kameshwar Kodavanti as new CFO: The State Bank of India board has
appointed Kameshwar Kodavanti as the new Chief Financial Officer
(CFO), effective from July 1, 2023. He has replaced Charanjit Surinder
Singh Attra, who has resigned from his post. He has been working with the State
Bank of India since August 1991 and has experience in fields of banking, forex,
finance, and accounting. He brings expertise in banking, forex, finance, and
accounting to his new position.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Lallianzuala Chhangte wins AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year award 2022-23: Indian football team midfielder Lallianzuala Chhangte has been named the AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year for 2022-23. He beat Nandhakumar Sekar and Naorem Mahesh Singh of East Bengal to win the award. While Manisha Kalyan won her second consecutive Women’s Footballer of the Year award. AIFF Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year 2022-23: Akash Mishra AIFF Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year 2022-23: Shilji Shaji AIFF President: Kalyan Chaubey
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