NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 
Centre approves Rs 56,415
crore for 16 states under capex scheme: The Finance Ministry has approved an investment of worth Rs 56,415 crore in 16 states
as part of the 'Special Assistance to States for Capital
Investment 2023-24’ scheme. Aim: To boost capital spending by states The Department of Expenditure has
approved investment projects in several sectors including health, education, roads, and railways among others. It has also included the state share
of two projects - Jal Jeevan
Mission and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
2.
Ministry of Agriculture
signed an MOU with Pixxel Space India: Ministry of Agriculture has signed an MOU with Pixxel Space India Pvt. Limited to develop
various geospatial solutions on a pro
bono basis for the Indian Agriculture Ecosystem, with the help of Pixxel’s
hyperspectral dataset. This project
focuses on leveraging sample hyperspectral data from Pixxel’s pathfinder satellites. It will develop analytics
models focused on crop mapping, crop stage discrimination, crop health monitoring, and soil organic carbon assessments.
3.
Union Minister Parshottam
Rupala launches NANDI: Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala today launched NANDI (NOC Approvals
for New Drugs & Inoculation System).
This portal has been developed to pave the way
to a
resilient Animal Health
Sector in India by streamlining and digitizing the regulatory approval
process. Aim: To speed up the process
to assess and examine the safety, efficacy, and essentiality of veterinary
product proposals received
in the Department
4. 
Bengaluru airport launches
BLR Pulse app for passengers: Bangalore International Airport Limited
has created a personalised digital
travel buddy named
BLR Pulse to cater to the needs
of flyers. It is an omnichannel platform, developed in collaboration with GrayMatter Software Services. It
will allow passengers to navigate within the terminal buildings and provide
essential information about the airport
in real-time. The interactive chatbot
feature in the app will enable a self-sufficient mode of finding answers.
5. IAF carries out Exercise Ranvijay with focus on integrated operations: The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out Exercise Ranvijay in UB Hills and Central
Air Command Area of Responsibility from June 16-23. The focus was on Integrated operations while optimally exploiting the electronic warfare
capabilities The exercise
was carried out from different
air bases of the command headquartered in
Prayagraj. Different IAF commands have been carrying out wargames and aerial drills to enhance jointness with the other two services
6. India’s first hydrogen-powered train to run from Jind district,
Haryana: The
first hydrogen- powered trains
in India are expected to start from the Jind district of Haryana by the end of 2023. The
officials claimed that hydrogen-powered trains are running only in Germany, and
the whole world is watching the project to see how India will start such trains. India’s
first hydrogen plant
is being set up near the railway junction in Jind district. The development of the plant has reached the final stage and hydrogen will be produced from water. The first prototype of the hydrogen train is expected to be introduced in the financial year 2023-2024 between Jind and Sonipat on the Northern Railway. The hydrogen fuel-based train of eight bogies will be environmentally friendly.
7. 
Assam govt to build 1st
underwater tunnel between Numaligarh & Gohpur: Assam’s first underwater tunnel to be constructed
between Numaligarh and Gohpur at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore. This groundbreaking project, estimated to cost Rs 6,000
crores, will be the first rail-road tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in northeast India. By connecting the north and south banks of
the river, the tunnel will significantly improve connectivity between
Numaligarh and Gohpur, making travel
more convenient and efficient. With a length of approx 15 kilometers, it will
bring about a transformational
change in the transportation infrastructure of the region. The tenders for the project
are scheduled to open next month, marking
a significant milestone
in the region’s transportation
infrastructure.
8.
U20 Engagement Group of G20
to host 2 Days Mayoral Summit in Ahmedabad: The city of Ahmedabad is all set to host the Urban20 (U20) Mayoral Summit on
7-8 July 2023. This Mayoral Summit
is expected to bring together several city leaders and Mayors from across G20
nations. The summit will also be
attended by delegates representing various cities, knowledge partners, Indian
and international organizations, academic institutes and dignitaries from the Government of India and the State Government. Ahmedabad is the U20 Chair
for the current sixth cycle and is
supported by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) as the Technical
Secretariat, and the Ministry
of Housing and Urban
Affairs (MoHUA) as the nodal
ministry.
9. 
BSNL partners with L&T
to offer private
5G network to businesses: IT company L&T
Technology Services has partnered with state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited (BSNL) for the deployment of private 5G network for enterprise customers. Under the agreement
framework signed by both companies, the spectrum will be provided by
BSNL using both PLMN (public land
mobile network) and isolated allotment. L&T Technology Services (LTTS) will
anchor the private
network requirements by deploying equipment, applications, servers, technology and software, and
core for the integration of devices and sensors within the customer’s
ecosystem, the IT firm. This partnership
marks LTTS’ foray into the 5G private network space, with LTTS assuming the role of a master system
integrator for customers, offering choice of technologies, equipment and use case buildout,
while BSNL will be the official network provider.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Kyriakos Mitsotakis sworn in as Prime Minister of Greece for a second
term: Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been sworn in as the PM of Greece for a second term, after winning
the Prime
Minister election. He took the oath of office in the presidential palace at a ceremony. In the election, he bagged 40.55% of the votes, more than twice the main opposition Syriza’s 17.84%. He vowed to accelerate institutional and economic reforms. He became the PM for the first time in 2019 when his party defeated Syriza in an election.
2. 
World MSME Day 2023: 27th
June: World
MSME Day is observed on June 27 every year to
raise awareness about the importance of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in promoting
inclusive and sustainable development worldwide. The Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade is
celebrating the day with
“Building a Stronger Future Together" theme of this year. The theme of MSME Day 2023 in India is “Future-ready MSMEs for India@100."
3.
Historian David Hardiman’s new book
released: Historian David Hardiman
has released his new book 'Non-Cooperation in India: Non-Violent Strategy and Protest'.
It is published by
Westland Books. The non-cooperation movement by the Indian National Congress
(INC) was the first mass movement
organized nationwide during India’s struggle for freedom, which was organized and led by Gandhi Ji. The book
is comprising seven chapters and is a detailed account of India’s first mass
movement.
4. 
Global Competitiveness Index
2023: India at 40: India has ranked 40th on the latest world competitiveness ranking released by the International Institute
for Management Development (IMD). The
country has slipped three spots from last year, but is still positioned better
than the 43rd rank in 2019-21.
According to the IMD’s World
Competitiveness Centre (WCC) report, India
progressed in government efficiency but lagged in business
efficiency, infrastructure and economic
performance. Key contributing factors to the country’s score were exchange rate stability, compensation levels and
advancements in pollution control. Out of the 64 economies ranked in the annual report, Denmark, Ireland
and Switzerland claimed
the top three spots, while the Netherlands, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
Sweden, the US and the UAE
completed the top 10.
5. Kyriakos Mitsotakis sworn in as Greece’s PM: The leader of Greece’s
centre-right New Democracy party,
Kyriakos Mitsotakis was sworn in as Prime Minister for a second term. Greek President
Katerina Sakellaropoulou is set to formally hand over Mitsotakis, the mandate to form a government, after which he will be sworn in and announce
his new Cabinet.
With 99.67 percent
of the vote counted, New Democracy secured 40.55 percent of the vote,
more than twice the percentage obtained
by the main opposition party,
Syriza.
6. 27 June – World MSME Day: International Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
(MSME) Day or World MSME Day is observed
every year on 27 June. Objective
– To highlight the significance of MSMEs and how they play a
crucial role in being the backbone of the country’s economy. Theme 2023 –
Future-ready MSMEs for India@100 The United Nations
(UN) designated 27th June as
Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day through a resolution passed in the UN General
Assembly in April
2017. In May 2017, a program titled
‘Enhancing
National Capacities for Unleashing Full Potentials of MSMEs in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Developing Countries was launched.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. FIFA U-17 World Cup to be hosted by Indonesia: The International Federation
of Association Football (FIFA)
has confirmed that the 2023 U-17 World Cup will be hosted by Indonesia. Initially, the host of the youngest World Cup event was Peru.
This announcement was made after the FIFA Council meeting
in Zurich, Switzerland. FIFA also announced
Colombia as the host of the 2024 U- 20 Women's World Cup
and Dominica as the host of the U-17 Women's World Cup. FIFA President:
Gianni Infantino
2. Diksha Dagar wins record second ladies European tour event title: Indian golf player, Diksha Dagar has secured her second Ladies
European Tour (LET) at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open 2023. In the final, she defeated Trichat
Cheenglab of Thailand.
The 22-year-old southpaw
Diksha won her first LET
title back in 2019 in her rookie year and in 2021 she was part of the winning team at the Aramco Team Series in London.
After Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar is the only other Indian woman golfer to have won two or more LET titles. She
represented India at the Tokyo 2022 Olympics.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. 
ICICI Lombard launches
insurance products for MSMEs: ICICI Lombard has launched three insurance
products focusing on MSMEs — MSME Suraksha
Kavach Policy, Property
All Risk (PAR)
Policy, and i-Select Liability. Aim: To make MSMEs more risk aware and
provide them with the benefit of
comprehensive coverage to safeguard their businesses MSME Suraksha Kavach
Policy protects MSMEs
against loss or damage to property due to defined insured perils.
PAR policy covers a range of properties against damage caused by accidents
2. DBS Bank India appoints Rajat Verma as Managing Director:
DBS Bank India
has appointed Rajat Verma as managing
director and head of institutional banking. He will succeed Niraj Mittal, who will be taking up a new
role as country head of DBS Bank in Australia. Rajat Verma was formerly with HSBC as the MD and country head of
Commercial Banking in India. He will
lead the growth of the institutional banking franchise for DBS Bank in India
given the significantly expanded
footprint of the lender.
3. S&P retains India's growth projection at 6% for FY24: S&P Global Ratings has
retained India's GDP growth forecast
at 6% for 2023-24.
Reason: The fastest growing
economy among Asia Pacific nations
In its quarterly economic update
for Asia-Pacific, S&P
Global Ratings forecasted the same
growth for Vietnam and the Philippines alongside India. In its latest report, S&P has kept the GDP growth forecast for India unchanged for the current and the next fiscal, FY25 partly on account of domestic resilience.
4. 
Infosys bags $454-million
deal from Danske Bank: IT major Infosys has bagged
a digital transformation deal from
Denmark-based Danske Bank estimated to be around USD 454 million for five years.
As part of the strategic
collaboration with Danske
Bank, Infosys will acquire Danske
Bank’s IT centre in India, which employs
1400 digitally skilled
professionals This collaboration will help Danske Bank achieve
its strategic priorities towards better customer
experiences, operational excellence, and a modernized technology landscape, powered
by next-gen solutions. Infosys was selected to help with the bank’s
technology transformation, optimize
access to talent and capabilities. Chief Executive Officer and Managing
Director of Infosys – Salil Parekh
5. 
Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance launches
‘Nishchit Pension Plan’: Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance
Company Limited, the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited,
has launched ‘Nishchit Pension Plan’.
It is a non-linked, non-participating individual pension plan that enables the policyholders to plan for
their retirement. ABSLI Nishchit Pension Plan provides accrued guaranteed additions during the policy
term and loyalty
addition at the end of the policy
term, provided the policy is in-force and all due premiums have been
paid. Under this plan, the policyholders
will be able to accumulate 100 percent guaranteed corpus at desired retirement age and will get to be a benefactor of
uninterrupted guaranteed income, post their retirement. The plan also provides the flexibility to defer vesting benefit
by up to 10 years. Under this plan, the insurer
provides accrued guaranteed additions during the policy term and loyalty
addition at the end of the policy term. Policyholders
can choose from multiple premium payment term
options, ranging from 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 years & Regular
Pay options. The maximum entry age to avail ABSLI Nishchit Pension Plan is 65 years,
while the minimum entry age is 30 years. The minimum annualized premium is Rs. 20,000.
The maximum age to avail the vesting
benefit is 75 years, while
the minimum vesting
age is 45 years.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Alappuzha doctor, K. Venugopal bags Indian Medical
Association (IMA) award:
A Chief
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at General Hospital, Alappuzha, Dr. K. Venugopal
has been selected for an award instituted by the Indian
Medical Association (IMA)
to commemorate National Doctors’ Day on July 1. He was selected under the category
of community service.
He will receive the award at
a function to be held at IMA headquarters in New Delhi on July 1. Indian Medical Association was Formed in 1928 & is Headquartered in New Delhi.
2. PM Modi conferred
Egypt’s highest state honour: Prime Minister Narendra
Modi was awarded the ‘Order of the Nile,’
Egypt’s highest honor,
by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
during a ceremony at the Presidential palace in
Cairo. This is the 13th such highest state honour that various countries across
the world have conferred upon PM Modi. In the nine years
of his tenure,
PM Modi has received many international awards including Legion of Merit by the US Government, Companion of the Order of
Fiji, and Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau among others. The ‘Order of the Nile’ was established in 1915 and is
bestowed upon heads of states, crown princes,
and vice presidents who have rendered
invaluable services to Egypt or humanity. During the first bilateral visit by an
Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years, India and Egypt elevated their relationship to a
‘Strategic Partnership’ following extensive discussions between Modi and El-Sisi.
3. Priya A.S. received
Sahitya Akademi Award 2023 for children’s literature: Indian writer, Priya A
S has been named the prestigious (Kendra) Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar
2023. She was awarded for children’s literature in Malayalam
for her 2018 novel Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal. She also won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for
Children’s Literature for the same novel
in 2020. The (Kendra) Sahitya
Akademi Bal Sahitya
Puraskar consists of Rs 50,000
and an engraved copper plaque.
Panels of three members each picked the winners in each language. Dr Paul Manalil,
B S Rajeev, and Mundoor
Sethumadhavan were the jury members
for Malayalam. Priya’s novel
was selected from a list of 10 recommended books. In 2014, Priya won (Kendra) Sahitya Akademi Translation
Prize for translating Arundhati Roy’s Booker Prize-winning novel
The God of Small
Things into Malayalam.
4.
Alappuzha doctor K Venugopal
selected for IMA award: A doctor at Alappuzha’s General Hospital,
Dr K Venugopal has been honored by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for his contribution to the medical field. K
Venugopal has been selected for the award in the category of community service. He will receive the
award at a function to be held at IMA headquarters in New Delhi on July 1, 2023. The award was instituted by the IMA
on the occasion of National Doctor’s Day.
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