NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NITI Aayog to launch Sampoornata Abhiyan: NITI Aayog has launched Sampoornata Abhiyan Campaign to achieve saturation of six key indicators in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks across the country. This is a three-month campaign running from June 4 to September 30.
It seeks to achieve saturation in each of the six identified indicators in the 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks under the Aspirational Districts Programme and Aspirational Blocks Programme.NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the relevant Central Ministries and Departments, as well as the Governments of States and Union Territories, will work together to ensure the effective and rapid development of these Districts and Blocks. This collaboration will focus on improved planning and implementation, capacity building, and establishing systems for service delivery.
2. NIC and Spices Board Sign MoU for AI-Based Cardamom Disease Study in Sikkim: The National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Spices Board of India have signed an MoU to develop Artificial intelligence (AI) tools for detecting and classifying large cardamom diseases in Sikkim. The project, spearheaded by NIC’s Centre of Excellence in AI in Kolkata, aims to analyze images of cardamom leaves to identify diseases early. This initiative follows three months of discussions and marks a significant step in leveraging AI for agricultural advancements in Sikkim.
3. RBI appoints Arnab Kumar & Charulatha S as new Executive Director: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Arnab Kumar Chowdhury and Charulatha S. Kar as executive directors. Chowdhury and Kar will look after three departments each. Prior to being promoted as executive director, Chowdhury was serving as Chief General Manager-in-Charge in the Department of Supervision. As executive director, he will look after Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), foreign exchange department, and international department. Prior to being promoted as executive director, Kar was serving as Chief General Manager-in-Charge in the Human Resource Management Department. She will look after the Department of Communication, Human Resource Management Department, and Right to Information (First Appellate Authority).
4. Dhirendra Ojha appointed as Director General of PIB: Senior Indian Information Service (IIS) officer Dhirendra Ojha has been appointed as Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Ojha will replace Sheyphali Sharan, who has been appointed as the Director General of the Publications Division.
5. Hemant Soren takes oath as Jharkhand CM for third term: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was sworn in as Jharkhand Chief Minister for the third term. He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi. Champai Soren resigned from the post of Chief Minister paving the way for his predecessor. Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 31 January 2024, however before his arrest, he resigned from the post of Chief Minister and Champai Soren, close to the JMM family, was made the Chief Minister.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NPCI international partners with Network International to expand UPI acceptance in UAE: Now Indian travellers or NRIs in UAE will be able to make Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments through QR code through Point-of-Sale machines. NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), in partnership with Network International, a leading digital commerce enabler across the Middle East and Africa, has facilitated the acceptance of QR-code-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments across point-of-sale (POS) terminals in the UAE. This initiative aims to provide seamless transaction experiences for Indian tourists in the UAE. With over 200,000 POS terminals spread in various sectors such as retail, hospitality, transport, and supermarkets, the UPI acceptance rollout will encompass a diverse range of establishments, including popular tourist and leisure attractions.
2. Belarus joins SCO 10th member: The 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hosted the summit meeting. The Eurasian country of Belarus was admitted as the 10th full member of the SCO. The Indian Prime Minister skipped the meeting, and India was represented by the External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar.
3. 5 July – Pet Remembrance Day: Pet Remembrance Day is observed every year on 5 July every year. It is a day to commemorate and honour the pets we love. It’s a day to share their stories, their pictures, and the special moments they had when they were alive.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India-Mongolia joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ begins in Meghalaya: The 16th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant began at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. The exercise involves 45 Indian personnel from the Sikkim Scouts and other arms, and personnel from the 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion of the Mongolian Army. This annual training event alternates between India and Mongolia; the previous edition was in Mongolia in July 2023. The exercise aims to enhance joint military capabilities for counter-insurgency operations under the UN mandate, focusing on semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Paytm launches ‘Health Saathi’ plan for its merchant partners: One 97 Communications Limited (OCL), which owns brand Paytm, has rolled out ‘Paytm Health Saathi’, an exclusive health and income protection plan for its merchant partners. This plan is available on the ‘Paytm for Business’ app. The launch of ‘Paytm Health Saathi’ aims to safeguard the wellbeing of its merchants, ensuring their health and business continuity. With this service, Paytm continues to empower its merchant partners, bolstering their resilience, while democratising access to affordable coverage.
2. NABARD partners with Online PSB Loans Ltd to digitalize Jan Suraksha Schemes for RRBs: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Online PSB Loans Ltd. have signed an MoU to smoothen the enrolment and claim settlement processes under the Jan Suraksha Schemes for all 43 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). Under this initiative, NABARD will integrate all 43 RRBs onto the Jan Suraksha Portal to democratise access to financial protection schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojna and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna across erstwhile inaccessible corners of the country. This initiative represents a significant stride towards bridging the financial gap in rural areas and will further empower RRBs to leverage digital solutions for seamless enrollment and efficient settlement of Jan Suraksha schemes.
3. Indiabulls Housing Finance renamed as Sammaan Capital: Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd’s name has been changed to Sammaan Capital Ltd, following its transformation into a board-run and diversely-held financial institution, from being a promoter-led and promoter-driven lender. This includes the Certificate of Incorporation from the Registrar of Companies and the Certificate of Registration as an NBFC-ICC (Investment and Credit Company) from the Reserve Bank of India.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Geetha wins first ever K. Saraswathi Amma Award for feminist studies: Writer, critic and feminist activist P. Geetha was presented with the first K. Saraswathi Amma Award for her work ”Aan Thachukal” on MT Vasudevan Nair’s scripts. It is instituted by WINGS (Women’s Integration and Growth Through Sports) Kerala. Saraswathi Amma published her first short story in 1938. In her time, she was dubbed as a ‘men hater’, later the feminist world hailed her as the forerunner of feminist literature. Saraswathi Amma was a bold writer who stood alone against the then patriarchal literary world. WINGS is an organisation formed with an objective of making women bold and independent.
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