NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Gujarat to host the National Education Ministers’ Conference: Gujarat will host
the two-day National Education Ministers’ Conference. The meeting will be
attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as other union
ministers and state and union territory education ministers. Deliberations on
how to boost the country’s education ecosystem are likely to take place during
this conference. It will concentrate on the implementation of the National
Education Policy 2020, school skilling, and digital projects such as the
National Digital Education Architecture and the National Educational Technology
Forum, among others. The state education ministers will also pay visits to
Vidya Samiksha Kendra, BISAG (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space
Applications and Geoinformatics), NFSU (National Forensic Science University),
and the International Automobile Centre of Excellence.
2. PM
Narendra Modi Unveils PM CARES for Children Scheme: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has released the benefits of the PM CARES for Children scheme for
children who lost their parents due to the Covid-19 pandemic. PM Modi has
promised Rs 4,000 a month for basic needs, financial support for schooling,
scholarship for higher education, and free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. Prime
Minister transferred scholarships to school-going children. A passbook of PM
CARES for Children, and a health card under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri
Jan Arogya Yojana were handed over to the children during the programme.
About the PM CARES scheme: PM CARES for
Children Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 29 May 2021. The aim was
to support children who have lost both their parents or legal guardian or
adoptive parents or surviving parents to the Covid-19 pandemic, during the
period from 11 March 2020 to 28 February 2022.
The objective of the PM CARES
scheme:
The objective of the Scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of
children in a sustained manner by providing them boarding and lodging,
empowering them through education and scholarships, and equipping them for
self-sufficient existence with the financial support of Rs. 10 lakhs on
attaining 23 years of age and ensuring their wellbeing through health
insurance.
3.
NCTE launches online portal to Simplify Process of Teacher Education Programme: National Council
for Teacher Education (NCTE) has launched an online portal to simplify the
process of recognition of teacher education programs in higher education
institutions. The portal launched to streamline the process seeks to help right
from the time of inviting application for courses till the stage of issue of
recognition orders including the inspection of institutions. The applications
for the recently launched four-year integrated teacher education programmes
(ITEP) applications will be processed on this portal.
About the Teacher education
programmes (ITEP):
The four-year ITEP is available for all students who choose to teach as a
profession after secondary, by choice. The integrated course will benefit
students since they will save one year by finishing it in four years rather
than the customary five years required by the present BEd plan.
About the National Council for
Teacher Education:
NCTE under the Ministry of Education has devised the curriculum for this course
as per NEP 2020 in such a way that it enables a student-teacher to get a degree
in education as well as a specialized discipline such as History, Mathematics,
Science, Arts, Economics, or Commerce.
Note: National Council for Teacher
Education Founded: 1995, India; National Council for Teacher Education
Chairperson: Shri Santosh Sarangi, IAS; National Council for Teacher Education
Headquarters: New Delhi.
4.
PARAM ANANTA Supercomputer commissioned at IIT, Gandhinagar: Param Ananta, is a
state of the art supercomputer at IIT Gandhinagar dedicated to the nation under
the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). It is a joint initiative of the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department
of Science and Technology (DST), which was commissioned. This indigenous
software stack is developed by C-DAC and is a Make in India initiative. About
the MoU:
a)
A
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between IIT Gandhinagar and the
Centre for Development in Advanced Computing (C-DAC) on October 12, 2020, to
establish this 838 TeraFlops Supercomputing Facility under NSM.
b)
The
system is equipped with a mix of CPU nodes, GPU nodes, high memory nodes, high
throughput storage, and high-performance Infiniband interconnect to cater to
the computing needs of various scientific and engineering applications.
About the Param Ananta: The Param Ananta
is based on direct contact liquid cooling technology to obtain a high power
usage effectiveness and thereby reduce the operational cost. The Param Ananta
Supercomputing Facility will greatly benefit IIT Gandhinagar’s R&D activities
in multidisciplinary domains of science and technology, including, but not
limited to, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data science;
computational fluid dynamics (CFD); bio-engineering for genome sequencing and
DNA studies.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
New law introduced in Canada aims to ‘freeze’ handgun ownership: Canadian Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled new legislation that would implement “some
of the harshest gun control measures” in decades, including a “freeze” on the
country’s handgun purchases and sales. Trudeau cited a succession of mass
shootings in Canada over the years, as well as recent assaults in the United
States, as part of his government’s motivation to propose Bill C-21 during a
press conference in Ottawa. About Canada Gun Ownership:
a)
Canada
has stronger gun ownership laws than the United States, gun control supporters
have campaigned for tougher regulations in recent years in the wake of a number
of mass shootings, including a 2017 attack on a Quebec mosque that killed six
worshipers and a fatal shooting in Toronto in 2018.
b)
The
AR-15 weapon, which was used by a shooter to murder 26 adults and children in
the Sandy Hook tragedy in the United States in 2012, and the Ruger Mini-14
rifle, which was used by a gunman to murder 14 women at a Montreal engineering
school in 1989, were among those banned.
c)
Long-gun
magazines will also be permanently changed so that they can never store more
than five rounds, and the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines would
be prohibited.
2.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed the first Arab free trade deal: Israel has inked
its first free trade agreement with an Arab country, with the United Arab
Emirates (UAE). The agreement was signed in Dubai by Israel’s Economy and
Industry Minister Orna Barbivay and the UAE’s Economy Minister Abdalla Bin Touq
Al Marri. According to an official statement released by Israel’s Ministry of
Economy and Industry, the comprehensive, significant, and ground-breaking
agreement is expected to increase bilateral trade in goods and services,
increase Israeli exports to the United Arab Emirates, and provide customs
exemption on 96% of trade between the countries: food, agriculture, cosmetics,
medical equipment, medication, and more. Key Points:
a)
Regulatory
and standardisation concerns, customs, collaboration, government procurement,
e-commerce, and intellectual property rights are all covered under the
agreement.
b)
This
is a crucial visit for the State of Israel’s commercial relations with the
United Arab Emirates, the first free trade zone deal with an Arab country.
c)
The
free trade zone agreement they signed this morning is expected to improve
bilateral commerce, remove barriers, and create new economic possibilities and
collaborations, all of which will serve as a foundation for our common road
forward.
d)
The
commercial pact with Israel will usher in a new era in the Middle East. This
agreement will boost economic growth and reinforce the notion that working
together is the only way to build long-term, sustainable economies in a
complicated environment.
e)
This
arrangement signifies much bigger than just business: the value of strong
collaborations. Our agreement will demonstrate to countries and governments all
across the world that collaboration and conversation are the most effective
ways to turn obstacles into opportunities.
3.
World Bicycle Day: 3rd June: World Bicycle Day is marked on 3rd June
every year to recognise bicycling as a way to get a sustainable form of
travelling that also ensures one’s physical well being. The day celebrates the
tradition of cycling and its significant role in keeping our health fit.
Cycling is a multidimensional exercise with numerous health benefits.
World Bicycle Day History: World Bicycle Day
was first marked on June 3, 2018, when the United Nations first adopted a
resolution during the 72nd Regular Session of the United Nations General
Assembly in New York City in April. The declaration was adopted by more than
193 member states that encouraged them to include bicycles in regional,
international, and subnational development programmes and policies.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
LIC Launches Savings Life Insurance Plan Bima Ratna: The Life
Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), India’s largest insurer, has launched
“Bima Ratna” – a non-linked, non-participating, individual, savings life
insurance plan. The new plan, which is aimed at the domestic market, provides
both protection and savings. Key Features of LIC’s Bima Ratna Plan:
a)
Bima
Ratna can be purchased through Corporate Agents, Insurance Marketing Firms
(IMF), Brokers, CPSC-SPV, and POSP-LI employed by these intermediaries namely
Corporate Agents, Insurance Marketing Firms (IMF), and Brokers
b)
The
key features of the plan include Death benefits, Survival benefits, Maturity
benefits, Guaranteed Additions, Settlement Options, Grace Period and Revival
solutions among other things.
c)
The
Bima Ratna plan from LIC provides financial assistance to the policyholder’s
family in the case of the policyholder’s untimely death during the policy term.
It offers for periodic payments for the policyholder’s survival at specified
intervals to address various financial demands.
d)
Premiums
can be paid on a yearly, half-yearly, quarterly, or monthly basis (monthly
premiums can only be paid through the National Automated Clearing House (NACH))
or by deductions from salary.
Note: LIC Chairperson: M R Kumar; LIC
Headquarters: Mumbai; LIC Founded: 1 September 1956.
2.
Indian-origin academic appointed to Bank of England’s monetary panel: Leading UK-based
academic, Dr Swati Dhingra has been named as the first Indian-origin woman to
be appointed as an external member of the Bank of England’s interest
rate-setting committee. Dhingra will replace current external member, Michael
Saunders, who has been on the MPC since August 2016. According to the UK
government’s Treasury Department, the appointment of external members to the
MPC is designed to ensure that the committee benefits from thinking and
expertise in addition to that gained inside the Bank.
About the Bank of England: The Bank of
England’s independent MPC makes decisions about the operation of the monetary
policy of the UK. It comprises the Governor of the Bank of England, its three
Deputy Governors, one member of the Bank with responsibility for monetary
policy and four external members who are appointed by the Chancellor.
Note: The Governor of the Bank of England:
Andrew Bailey.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. Tata
Motors Inks Pact for Potential Acquisition of Ford India’s Plant in Gujarat: Tata Passenger
Electric Mobility Limited (TPEML), a subsidiary of Tata Motors Ltd, and Ford
India Private Limited (FIPL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with the Government of Gujarat (GoG) for the potential acquisition of FIPL’s
Sanand vehicle manufacturing facility. The MoU includes the potential
acquisition of the facility’s land & buildings, vehicle manufacturing
plant, machinery and equipment and transfer of all eligible employees of FIPL
Sanand’s vehicle manufacturing operations, subject to the signing of definitive
agreements and receipt of relevant approvals.
FIPL’s Sanand vehicle manufacturing
facility:
The Ford India vehicle manufacturing site at Sanand is a state-of-the-art site.
TPEML would invest into new machinery and equipment which is necessary to
commission and make the unit ready to produce its vehicles. With the proposed
investments, it would establish an installed capacity of 300,000 units per
annum, which would be scalable to more than 400,000 units.
Note: Tata Motors Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai;
Tata Motors Ltd Founder: J. R. D. Tata; Tata Motors Ltd Founded: 1945, Mumbai.
DEFENCE
1.
Defence Ministry signs Rs 2,971-crore deal for indigenous Astra Beyond Visual
Range missiles:
The Defence Ministry has signed a contract with the defence public sector
undertaking Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the supply of the indigenously
developed Astra Mk-I Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air to air missiles and
associated equipment for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Navy at a cost of
Rs 2,971 Crore. The missile, for which successful trials have already been
undertaken by the IAF, is fully integrated on the Su-30 MK-I fighter aircraft
and will be integrated with other fighter aircraft in a phased manner,
including the Light Combat Aircraft.
About the Astra Mk-I:
a)
Astra
has a range of over 100 km with modern guidance and navigation techniques and
has midcourse guidance and RF seeker based terminal guidance to achieve target
destruction with pinpoint accuracy, as the DRDO had stated earlier.
b)
Air
to Air missile with BVR capability provides large standoff ranges to fighter
aircraft which can neutralise the adversary aircraft without exposing
themselves to adversary air defence measures, thereby gaining and sustaining
superiority of the air space.
c) A longer range and more sophisticated Astra-Mk2 is under development by DRDO and once it is inducted will free up the dependency on imports in the BVR segment.
