Daily GK Update- 14th June, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Pankaj Agrawal appointed as new Power Secretary: The government of India has appointed Pankaj Agrawal as the new Power Secretary. He would replace present Secretary Alok Kumar, who will retire on June 30. While Rajat Mishra will be the new Fertiliser Secretary, and Chanchal Kumar to join the Civil Aviation Ministry as Secretary. Sudhansh Pant will move from the Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry to Health Ministry. Subhas Chandra Lal Das will move to the Ministry of MSME as Secretary.

 

2. Odisha celebrates 'Raja' agricultural festival: Odisha is celebrating the Raja festival, an agricultural festival on June 14, 2023. The first day is observed as ‘Sajabaja’, which means preparations, while the second day is observed as Pahili Raja. The third day is observed as ‘Majhi Raja’ or ‘Mithuna Sankranti’ and the fourth day is ‘Bhudaha’ or ‘Sesha Raja’. The fifth day is called ‘Basumati Snana’. On this day, ladies give a bath to the grinding stone, considering it as mother earth.

 

3. Vigyan -Vidushi 2023 summer programme: Vigyan -Vidushi – 2023 has been commenced at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), in Mumbai. It is an initiative to address the gender balance in the discipline of Physics at the doctorate level. 40 women students from forty different institutes all over India have attended this program which gave them exposure to advanced physics courses. This program is an initiative of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), through its HBCSE.

 

4. Amitava Mukherjee gets 3 months extension as CMD of NMDC: The Ministry of Steel has given three months extension to Amitava Mukherjee, Director (Finance) of the NMDC to hold the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) mining major and its disinvested company NMDC Steel Limited (NSL). Thus, he will be holding the additional charge as CMD of NMDC Limited for a further period of three months with effect from June 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023. A wholly owned subsidiary of NMDC Limited, NMDC Steel Limited was incorporated on January 2, 2015, under the Companies Act, 2013 with a registered office at NMDC Iron and Steel Plant, Nagarnar (Bastar, Chhattisgarh). The NSL has set up a 3 MTPA greenfield integrated steel plant in Nagarnar that is all set to go on full stream this month.

 

5. Mumbai Traffic Police declare ‘No Honking Day’ on June 14: Mumbai Police’s Traffic Control Branch has taken a significant step to address the issue of noise pollution and its detrimental effects on public health. They have announced the observance of a ‘No Honking Day’ on June 14, aimed at curbing the unnecessary use of vehicle horns. With noise pollution causing harm to both the environment and human health, the police are urging motorists to positively respond to this initiative by refraining from honking their horns. The Mumbai Police advised all motorists to ensure that their vehicle horns meet the guidelines specified in Rule 119 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Blood Donor Day 2023: June 14: World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on June 14 to raise awareness for the necessity of blood donation and thank the altruistic acts of selflessness of voluntary blood donors and celebrate life and humanity. 2023 theme: Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often This day was first distinguished by the WHO in 2004. At the 58th World Health Assembly (2005), it was declared an annual global event on June 14 (the birthday of Karl Landsteiner).

 

2. Global Slavery Index 2023 released: The Global Slavery Index 2023 provides national estimates of modern slavery for 160 countries. Produced by: ILO, Walk Free, and International Organisation for Migration Walk Free has reported that 49.6 million people are living in modern slavery, out of which, India is home to 11 million. Countries with the highest prevalence: North Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey Countries with the lowest prevalence: Switzerland, Norway, and Germany

 

3. Indo-Maldives joint military exercise commences: The 12th edition of the joint military exercise “Ex Ekuverin” between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force has commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. “Ekuverin” means “Friends” and is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India & Maldives. The primary objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations under the UN mandate. Additionally, it aims to facilitate joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, it added. The previous edition of the exercise, the 11th edition, was held in the Maldives in December 2021.

 

4. 13 June – International Albinism Awareness Day : International Albinism Awareness Day is observed every year on 13 June. Objective – To spread awareness about the human rights of the Albinos across the world and also to condemn such attacks Theme 2023 – Inclusion Is Strength The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the first resolution on albinism on June 13, 2013, called “Attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism.” Eventually, the United Nations’ General Assembly (UNGA), on December 18, 2014, established June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day. The celebration has taken place since 2015 as International Albinism Awareness Day. Albinism was a serious problem in Tanzania during the mid-2000s. The country is believed to be having the highest percentage of albinos living. Hundreds of them have been brutally murdered and mutilated in the African country in the past decades. Local superstitions claim their body parts can bring luck and prosperity. Another widespread rumor is that albinos are evil spirits. The Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) and other NGOs campaigned for the human rights of albinos.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Harry Tector won ICC Men’s Player of the Month for May: Ireland’s Harry Tector has won the ICC’s Men’s Player of The Month award for May 2023, beating off competition from Pakistan star Babar Azam and Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto. Tector has been one of the rising stars in Ireland cricket and was in top form during the ODI series against Bangladesh recently. The 23-year-old was 21 not out in the first match, that got washed out, but it was in the second ODI he showed his class. Tector scored 140 from just 113 balls with seven fours and 10 sixes to help Ireland recover from a poor start. The youngster would then cap off a great series for him with 45 in the final ODI. While, 19-year-old Thipatcha Putthawong (Thiland) has become the latest recipient of the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for May 2023, after her countrywoman Naruemol Chaiwai won it last month.

 

2. Andy Murray beats Jurij Rodionov to win Surbiton Trophy: Tennis player Andy Murray clinched his second ATP Challenger Tour title of the season Surbiton Trophy. The former World No. 1 defeated Jurij Rodionov 6-3, 6-2 in the final at the ATP Challenger Tour 125 grass-court event. The 36-year-old Murray also became the oldest grass-court champion at an ATP Challenger Tour event and earned a seeded position at Wimbledon next month which begins on 3 July. It was his first singles title on grass since winning Wimbledon in 2016. Murray withdrew from the French Open to prioritize Wimbledon, where he has won two of his majors on grass.

 

3. Uruguay beat Italy to win maiden FIFA U-20 World Cup title: Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 to win its first Under-20 World Cup title. The Celeste’s victory ends a streak of four consecutive wins of European teams in the tournament. Luciano Rodríguez scored the winning goal in the 86th minute in a header from close range, giving Uruguay a much-deserved victory after an entire match of dominance against Italy. France finished third, defeating South Korea 3-2 in the third-place playoff. Uruguay lost the final of the tournament in 1997 and 2013. Brazil was the last winner from South America in 2011. FIFA decided to hand the organization over to Argentina one month before kickoff.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Fino Payments Bank partners Hubble for `Spending Account: Hubble has joined hands with Fino Payments Bank for introducing India's first spending account. Features: Depositors can save money in the account and earn up to 10% cash back on all purchases they make from the account. They can track expenses over 50 partnered brands and potentially save up to Rs. 20,000 annually. Users earn an interest rate of 2.75% annually on their parked funds. It will be integrated with Fino Payments Bank's digital savings account.

 

2. Sebi introduces framework for direct mutual fund investment platforms: SEBI has introduced a regulatory framework for online investment platforms that facilitate investments in commission-free mutual fund schemes. It also addresses investor concerns about associated risks and introduces a grievance redressal mechanism. Platforms providing MF investment services in direct (commission-free) plans will have to apply for an 'execution only platform' licence through Sebi or AMFI within three months of the regulation coming into force.

 

3. KVG Bank launches a new deposit scheme: Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has launched a new deposit scheme ‘Vikas Ashadeep 400 days”. Features: The scheme is of a tenor of 400 days with an interest rate of 7.5% for senior citizens and 7% for the general public. Prospective customers of the scheme will earn higher interest for a shorter period (almost 13 months). Under the scheme, a minimum of Rs 10,000 and a maximum of Rs 2 crore can be deposited. KVGB chairman: Shreekant Bhandiwad

 

4. NPCI introduces UPI plug-in with RING digital credit platform: RING digital credit platform has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India to add its newly launched UPI plug-in functionality to RING's pre-existing suite of digital services. Aim: To help RING offer 'scan & pay' options to its existing customers and acquire new customers who use UPI as a preferred mode of payment It will become a one-stop integrated payment and credit solution where a customer can avail credit and pay merchants across the country.

 

5. India’s CPI inflation eases to 4.25 percent in May: India’s retail inflation dropped to 4.25 percent in May from 4.7 percent in April, according to a data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The consumer price-based index (CPI) inflation in May is lowest in 25 months. The food inflation also eased to 2.91 percent in April. It was 3.84 percent in the month of April. The food basket accounts for nearly half of the CPI. While, inflation in fuel and light also eased to 4.64 percent, from 5.52 percent in April. It was for the second month in a row that retail inflation remained within the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s comfort zone of below six percent. Despite the huge 227-basis-point fall since January, CPI inflation remains above the central bank’s medium-term target of 4 percent for the 44th month in a row. India’s CPI inflation in April fell sharply to 4.7 percent from 6.4 percent in February on the back of favourable base effects, with softening observed across all three major groups.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ramachandra Guha's book wins Elizabeth Longford Prize 2023: The book 'Rebels Against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom', authored by Ramachandra Guha has won the £5,000 Elizabeth Longford Prize 2023 for Historical Biography. This book tells the story of seven foreigners (4 British, 2 American, and 1 Iris) who joined India’s freedom struggle. The list includes Annie Besant, B.G. Horniman, Philip Spratt, Richard Ralph Keithahn, Samuel Stokes, Madeline Slade, and Catherine Mary Heilemann. Prize money: £5,000

 

2. GSITI Hyderabad gets Accredited as 'Athi Uttam': The Geological Survey of India Training Institute has been awarded accreditation as 'Athi Uttam' by the National Accreditation Board of Education and Training (NABET). The assessment was made on the basis of the inspection of all standard operating procedures and methodologies. The team of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), NABET, and Quality Control of India conducted the on-site assessment. GSITI was established in 1976 and its headquarters located in Hyderabad.

 

3. EPFO set to be ISSA affiliate member, get global recognition: EPFO will gain access to professional guidelines, expert knowledge, services, and support from the International Social Security Association (ISSA). The move comes after the central board of trustees of EPFO gave its approval to change its membership status with ISSA from associate member to affiliate member now. The organization became an associate member in 1962. Other than EPFO, the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation is the only ISSA affiliate member from India.

 

4. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das named ‘Governor of the Year’: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das was awarded the “Governor of the Year” at the Central Banking Awards 2023 in London. Central Banking is a London-based international economic research journal. Das is the second RBI governor to receive the award after Raghuram Rajan, who was given the title in 2015. The RBI governor has cemented critical reforms, overseen world-leading payments innovation and steered India through difficult times with a steady hand and well-crafted turn of phrase. Das is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, who is currently serving as the 25th governor of the RBI. He has worked for both the central government and the Tamil Nadu government in several capacities, such as the economic affairs secretary, the revenue secretary, and fertilizers secretary.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Cormac McCarthy, novelist of a darker America, passes away: A novelist, Cormac McCarthy passed away at 89 in the USA. “All the Pretty Horses,” “The Road” and “No Country for Old Men” were among his acclaimed books that explore a bleak world of violence and outsiders. He was awarded the National Book Award in 1992 for his novel 'All the Pretty Horses'. He also won a Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for 'The Road'. Other novels: Suttree, Blood Meridian, The Border Trilogy, No Country for Old Men

 

2. Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi passes away: Former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi passed away at the age of 86. Berlusconi previously served as Prime Minister of Italy four times, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia party went into coalition under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last September.

Daily GK Update- 13th June, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Industrial Output of India rise to 4.2% in April 2023: According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data, the index of industrial production (IIP) in India has increased to 4.2% on an annual basis in April 2023 from 1.1% in March 2023. Manufacturing sector output rose to 4.9% in April 2023 against 5.6% and Power generation declined by 1.1% in April 2023 against a growth of 11.8% Mining output rose by 5.1% during the month under review compared to a growth of 8.4% in the year-ago period

 

2. Centre releases the third installment of tax devolution to states: The Union Government has released the third instalment of tax devolution to State governments amounting to 1,18,280 crore rupees, as against the normal monthly devolution of 59,140 crores. One advance instalment in addition to the regular instalment due in June is being released to States. Reason: To speed up capital spending and finance their development and welfare-related expenditure UP received the highest share of Rs 21,218 crore and Goa the least at Rs 457 crore

 

3. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare signs an MoU with private sector: Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare signed an MoU with the M/s Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited on 12 June 2023 in New Delhi. Aim: To bring the corporate companies and Ex-Servicemen on a common platform to generate employment opportunities for the esteemed Ex-Servicemen of the Defence Services This partnership would bring in more visibility of our Ex-servicemen to the industry and corporates.

 

4. Centre constitutes peace committee in Manipur under governor: The central government has formed a Peace Committee in Manipur to facilitate peace among ethnic groups in the state. The committee is chaired by the governor of Manipur and includes members from political parties, civil servants, educationists, artists, and social workers. The committee’s mandate is to strengthen social cohesiveness between various ethnic groups in the state.

 

5. IIT-Madras generates hydrogen from seawater using solar energy: Researchers from the Department of Physics at IIT-Madras have developed critical components for a highly efficient, cost-effective way to electrolyze seawater to generate hydrogen. The results were published in the journal ACS Applied Energy Materials. State-of-the-art alkaline water electrolyzer technology is energy-intensive, requires an expensive oxide-polymer separator, and uses fresh water for electrolysis. We found our separator is highly resistant to seawater degradation said Sana Fathima, co-authors of the paper. The IIT-Madras team led by Dr. Ramaprabhu Sundara has addressed each of these challenges by developing simple, scalable and cost-effective alternatives that are highly efficient in splitting seawater and generating hydrogen

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indo-Maldives joint military exercise “Ekuverin” commenced in Uttarakhand: The 12th edition of a joint military exercise between the Indian Army & the Maldives National Defence Force, 'Ex Ekuverin' is being commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand from 11 to 24 June 2023. Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’, is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Maldives. Aim: To enhance the interoperability in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism Operations under the UN mandate The 11th edition of the exercise was held in Maldives in 2021.

 

2. 'The Snow Forest', authored by Elizabeth Gilbert will be released: The book titled, 'The Snow Forest', authored by Elizabeth Gilbert will be released in February 2024. This book is published by Bloomsbury. The novel, “The Snow Forest”, is inspired by the true story of the family of religious hermits discovered in Siberia in 1978 who had escaped early 20th century Russia for a life in one of the most inhospitable and uninhabited places on earth. He has also authored 'Eat, Pray, Love'.

 

3. International Albinism Awareness Day 2023: 13 June: International Albinism Awareness Day is observed annually on June 13 to ensure the inclusion of the voices of persons with albinism in all sectors of life. 2023 theme: Inclusion is Strength Albinism is a genetic condition that can lead to the absence of melanin production in the human body. In 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Commission passed a resolution called Attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism.

 

4. UAE emerges as 4th largest investor in India during FY23: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the fourth largest investor in India during 2022-23, according to government data. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was signed a comprehensive free trade agreement with India in May last year. In the last fiscal, foreign direct investment (FDI) from the UAE to India jumped over three-fold to USD 3.35 billion from USD 1.03 billion in 2021-22, the data of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) showed. Singapore was the largest investor in India with USD 17.2 billion investment in FY23, followed by Mauritius (USD 6.1 billion) and the US (USD 6 billion). UAE’s investments in India are mainly in sectors like services, sea transport, power, and construction activities. One of the crucial factors for the increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) from UAE is the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and UAE on February 18, 2022 (effective from May 1, 2022).

 

5. Pieter Elbers appointed as Chair-elect of IATA’s Board of Governors: Pieter Elbers has been elected as the chair-elect of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors. He will succeed Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of Rwandair, with effect from June 2024. As the chair-elect of the IATA BoG, Elbers will play a pivotal role in further shaping the global aviation landscape, advocating for the industry’s interests, and driving innovation and sustainability initiatives.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. World Cup Squash Championship begins in Chennai: The World Cup Squash championship is being organized in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on June 13, 2023, after a gap of 12 years. It was formally inaugurated by the State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Udhayanidhi Stalin. On the first day, India will play against Hongkong and China in the pool B matches and in another match Japan will play against South Africa. Each match will be played to the best of five games, each to seven points with a total of 11 points in general.

 

2. Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 to win maiden FIFA U-20 World Cup: Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 to win its first FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023. The Celeste's victory ends a streak of four consecutive wins of European teams in the tournament. Luciano Rodríguez scored the winning goal in the 86th minute with a header from close range, giving Uruguay a much-deserved victory after an entire match of dominance against Italy. Earlier, debutant Israel beat South Korea 3-1 to secure third place in the same stadium in La Plata.

 

3. Novak Djokovic won the French Open 2023 Men’s Singles Final: Serbian Tennis Player, Novak Djokovic has won the French Open 2023 men’s singles final, clinching his 23rd Grand Slam title.

Djokovic beat Norwegian Casper Ruud 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 in the final at Roland Garros. Djokovic also broke Nadal’s record as the oldest French Open singles champion. He became the first man to win all four tennis majors at least three times, joining three women who did so (Serena Williams, Steffi Graf and Margaret Court). Novak Djokovic has become the first man to reach the 23rd Grand Slam title.

 

4. Nick Taylor becomes first Canadian Champion since 1954: Nick Taylor has become the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national Open, holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood in the RBC Canadian Open. The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Fletcher was born in England; Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Indian Overseas Bank launched 'My Account My Name' feature: In a first-of-its-kind move in the banking sector, Indian Overseas Bank has launched a Unique feature named 'My Account My Name' for IOB SB HNI and IOB SB MAX account holders. This feature allows customers to choose any name as their account number. The account name can only be a numeric, alphabetic, or alphanumeric combination of seven characters. For example, a customer's account number can be 'Jackson' or '1234567' or 'Jack123.

 

2. RBI penalizes Bihar State Co-op Bank Rs 60.20 lakh: RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 60.20 lakh on The Bihar State Co-operative Bank Limited, Patna for a slew of shortcomings and violations. A statutory inspection of the Patna-based bank by Nabard after FY20 revealed that it failed to put in robust software for identifying and reporting suspicious transactions and submit statutory returns within prescribed timelines. The RBI also imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 6 lakh on Jowai Cooperative Urban Bank Limited, Meghalaya.

 

3. MRF becomes first stock in India to hit Rs 1 lakh per share mark: MRF became the first Indian stock to touch the rupee one lakh per share mark on June 13, 2023. The stock opened at ₹99,500 on BSE against the previous close of ₹98,939.70 and touched an all-time high of ₹1,00,300 in morning trade. The stock has witnessed strong gains in the last one year. It is up 45% in the last one year against a 19% gain in the benchmark Sensex. MRF shares hit their 52-week low of ₹65,900.05 on BSE on June 17, 2022.

 

4. Equitas Holdings surrenders NBFC licence to RBI: The Reserve Bank of India has informed Equitas Holdings Ltd has surrendered its NBFC licence and accordingly, its registration has been cancelled.  The RBI, in the exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, has therefore cancelled its CoR (certificate of registration). Reason: The company does not hold public funds Therefore, it may have voluntarily surrendered its certificate of registration.

 

5. SBI to raise Rs 50,000 crore in FY24: The central board of State Bank of India (SBI) has approved raising of funds aggregating ₹50,000 crore via issuance of debt instruments, including capital instruments in FY24. The board’s approval is for raising funds in the Indian rupee and/or any other convertible currency by issue of debt instruments, including but not limited to Long Term Bonds, Basel III-compliant Additional Tier 1 Bonds, Basel III-compliant Tier 2 Bonds. The resources will be raised through private placement mode to Indian and/or overseas investors during FY24, subject to the government’s approval wherever required. SBI had raised funds aggregating about ₹38,850 crore through issuance of infrastructure bonds, Tier-2 bonds and AT-1 bonds in FY23.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi passes away: Former Italian prime minister and billionaire, Silvio Berlusconi has passed away at 86 in Milan, Italy. Berlusconi founded Forza Italia, a center-right party, in 1994 with the aim of defeating the 'communists'. His party introduced a populist style of politics in Italy, propelling him to the upper ranks of the political establishment. He was also known as 'Il Cavaliere' (The Knight) and remained a flamboyant and influential figure in Italian politics.

 

2. Bollywood Actor Mangal Dhillon passes away: A renowned Bollywood actor, Mangal Dhillon passed away. He was known for his remarkable acting prowess and memorable performances in shows like ‘Junoon’ and ‘Buniyaad’. Dhillon was seen alongside Rekha in the film Khoon Bhari Maang, and his repertoire includes notable movies such as Dayavan, Zakhmi Aurat, Vishwatma, Pyaar Ka Devta, Amba, Toofan Singh, Dalaal, among others. In addition to his achievements in films, Dhillon left an indelible impact on the small screen, featuring in popular television shows like Katha Sagar, Kismat, Ghutan, Rishta and Param Vir Chakra, among others.

Daily GK Update- 12th June, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Amit Agrawal appointed as CEO of UIDAI: Senior IAS officer, Amit Agrawal has been appointed as the new CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). While Subodh Kumar Singh has been appointed as director general of the National Testing Agency. Both Agrawal and Singh are Indian Administrative Service officers of the Chhattisgarh cadre. Rashmi Chowdhary, additional secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training, has been appointed as secretary in the Central Information Commission.

 

2. Nitin Agarwal appointed as new DG of BSF: Nitin Agarwal, an IPS officer of the 1989 Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the new director general of the Border Security Force (BSF). This appointment comes after a vacancy of over five months in the position. Presently, he is serving as the Additional DG of operations at the headquarters of the CRPF in Delhi. The additional charge of the BSF has been held by Sujoy Lal Thaosen, the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

 

3. IIT Mandi researchers develop smart biodegradable microgels: Researchers at the IIT Mandi have developed smart biodegradable microgels to make agricultural practices more sustainable and minimize the adverse impact caused by the use of insecticides and agrochemicals The research has been published in the "Carbohydrate Polymers" journal. Modern agriculture relies heavily on the application of various agrochemicals such as insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers on crops to meet the demand for food for the growing population.

 

4. Unemployment rate falls to 7.7% in May on decline in labour participate: According to data released by the private economic think tank CMIE, the unemployment rate in India fell to 7.7% in May due to a decline in labor participation at 441.9 million. The unemployment rate in India among people aged 15 years and above fell to 7.7% in May 2023, from 8.5% in the previous month. The urban labour market recorded a fall in the number of employed as well as unemployed people. The rural labour force reduced to 299.4 million in May.

 

5. PM Modi inaugurated first-ever National Training Conclave in New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the first-ever National Training Conclave at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. It was hosted by Capacity Building Commission with the objective to foster collaboration among civil services training institutes and strengthen the training infrastructure for civil servants across the country. More than 1500 representatives from training institutes, including Central Training Institutes, State Administrative Training Institutes, Regional and Zonal Training Institutes, and Research institutes participated in the conclave. The Conclave is aimed to enhance capacity building in civil services and is organized under the auspices of the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) – ‘Mission Karmayogi.’ During the conclave, eight-panel discussions will take place, each focusing on key concerns pertinent to civil services training institutes.

6. NHDC to construct 525 MW pumped storage power project in MP: Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC Ltd.) will construct a 525 MW pumped storage project near the Indira Sagar Dam in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. The project will use the existing reservoirs of Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar, which are part of the Indira Sagar Project.

The project is being executed to meet the increasing peak-hour demand for energy in Madhya Pradesh. The pumped storage project will generate renewable energy that can be used to meet the state’s energy needs during peak energy hours. The project is expected to generate 1.2 billion units of energy during peak hours and is estimated to cost Rs 4,200 crore (approximately $550 million). NHDC Limited has been allotted this project by the Department of New & Renewable Energy, Government of Madhya Pradesh.

 

7. Sanjay Swarup appoints as CMD of CONCOR: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has picked Sanjay Swarup for the role of Chairman and Managing Director of Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR). Swarup is currently the Director (International Marketing and Operations) at India’s biggest rail hauler of containers. Swarup was selected from a short list of eight candidates, six of whom were from CONCOR. Swarup is an Indian Railways Traffic Service (IRTS) officer from the 1990 batch. In a career spanning three decades, Swarup has held assignments in the public sector and government. CONCOR is a state-owned enterprise that provides container transportation and logistics services in India.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Day Against Child Labour 2023: 12th June: The World Day against Child Labour is observed annually on June 12 to support the expanding anti-child labour movement. ILO declared June 12 to be the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to raise awareness of this problem. "Week of Action against Child Labour" is the theme for the 2023 World Day Against Child Labour. The ILO intends to start a week-long campaign to raise public awareness of the injustice of child labour and inspire people to take action.

 

2. Israel to release world’s first digital government bond: The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and Israel’s Finance Ministry successfully completed the proof-of-concept phase for a digital Israeli Bond traded on a dedicated blockchain platform. The development positions Israel to release the world’s first digital government bond. The blockchain used for this event was EVM-compatible, enabling potential integration with other blockchain solutions in the future. The Ministry of Finance issued and minted the first dummy digital governmental bond on a blockchain-based platform as an ERC-1155 Security Token using a dedicated decentralized app (dApp) developed leveraging web3 solutions specifically for this proof of concept. The blockchain used for this event was EVM-compatible, enabling potential integration with other blockchain solutions in the future.

 

3. 12 June – World Day Against Child Labour: The World Day against Child Labour has been observed annually on 12 June since 2002. This significant day was established by the International Labour Organization (ILO), and all United Nations member countries have since been commemorating it. Theme 2023 – Week of Action against Child Labour This year, we will mark the 21st World Day Against Child Labour. The origin of this day can be traced back to 2000. According to the United Nations, approximately 160 million children worldwide are involved in child labour, which represents 1 in 10 children. From 2000 to 2020, child labour decreased by 85.5 million, dropping from 16 percent to 9.6 percent. Only 26.4 percent of children worldwide receive social protection cash benefits. Globally, only 1.1 percent of GDP is spent on social protection for children and only 0.4 percent of GDP for children in Africa.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Novak Djokovic wins his 23 grand slam men’s singles title: Serbian Tennis player, Novak Djokovic has defeated Casper Ruud in the men’s singles final to win the 2023 French Open title.

He has also created history by becoming the first man to reach the coveted 23 grand slam title mark. Other Winners:

·       Women's singles: Iga Świątek (Poland)

·       Men's doubles: Ivan Dodig (Croatia) and Austin Krajicek (US)

·       Mixed doubles: Miyu Kato (Japan) and Tim Pütz (Germany)

·       Women's doubles: Hsieh Su-wei (Chinese Taipei) / Wang Xinyu (China)

 

2. India beat Argentina to win FIH Pro League 2023: India defeated Argentina 2-1 in its final FIH Pro League 2022-23 match in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Akashdeep Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored goals for India while Lucas Toscani netted the only goal for Argentina India consolidated their position atop the FIH Pro League standings with 30 points from 16 matches. Argentina is fifth with 13 points from 14 matches The Indian men’s hockey team finished in fourth place in their debut FIH Pro League campaign back in 2020-21

 

3. French Open: Iga Swiatek won Women’s Singles title: In French Open tennis, World No 1 and top seed Iga Swiatek of Poland has won the Women’s Singles crown. She defended her title against unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. This is her third French title in just 5 years. Poland’s Iga Swiatek became the first woman since 2007 to win back-to-back French Open titles. The 22-year-old Swiatek is just the third woman in the Open era to win each of her first four Grand Slam finals. Monica Seles and Naomi Osaka are the only other players to achieve this feat. Swiatek, the world number 1, is also the youngest woman to claim back-to-back French Open titles since Monica Seles in the early 1990s.

 

4. Australia won ICC World Test Championship 2023: Australia has won the World Test Championship after a crushing win over India in the final at The Oval, London. This was India’s second consecutive defeat in a WTC final; they had lost to New Zealand in the title clash of the inaugural edition in 2021. This was India’s fourth defeat in the ICC finals after their Champions Trophy victory in England in 2013. India lost the final of the T20 World Cup to Sri Lanka in 2014, then lost the Champions Trophy final to Pakistan in 2017 before a defeat to New Zealand in the WTC final in 2021. Australia also became the first men’s team in world cricket to win an International Cricket Council (ICC) world title in all three formats. Australia achieved the feat when they decimated India in the final of the World Test Championship 2021-23 at The Oval to become the new world champions of the longest format of the game. Australia won the first-ever 50-over World Cup in 1987 and went on to win 4 more titles, becoming the most successful side in 50-over World Cups. Australia also won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006, beating the West Indies in the final. Player of the match – Travis Head

 

5. India won Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2023: The Indian hockey team emerged champions of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup in Japan’s Kakamigahara by defeating South Korea 2-1 in a captivating final. Annu (22nd) and Neelam (41st) scored for India and Park Seo-yeon (25th) for Korea. This is India’s first title while South Korea (4) and China (3) share the honours from the previous editions. Acknowledging the team’s unbeaten streak in six matches — it also helped them qualify for the 2023 Women’s Junior World Cup in Chile — Hockey India (HI) declared a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh per player and Rs.1 lakh each for the support staff.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India, ADB sign $130 million loan agreement to boost horticulture in HP: The central government and the ADB signed a loan agreement worth $130 million to boost agricultural productivity and horticulture agribusinesses The deal aims to increase farmers‘ income and improve access to irrigation in Himachal Pradesh The project interventions will help increase the income and resilience to the effects of climate change of at least 15,000 farm households across seven districts in the state: Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan, and Una

 

2. Axis Bank’s lake cleanliness drive in Hyderabad enters Asia Book of Rec: Axis Bank in partnership with NGO Dhruvansh has organised a lake cleaning drive, ‘Cleanathon’, in Hyderabad. This initiative was recorded in the Asia Book of Record as it was the largest cleaning drive conducted across the country. In Hyderabad, over 100 volunteers participated in cleaning Mushki Cheruvu and Neknampur Lake to restore these water bodies. The campaign aligned with the United Nations’ theme for World Environment Day 2023, ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.

 

3. Go Digit gets IRDAI nod to commence life insurance operations: Go Digit has received the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's approval to commence life insurance operations. In 2022, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank announced that they will both acquire up to 9.94% stake each in Go Digit-Life Insurance through the investment of ₹50-70 crore, possibly in tranches, subject to executive of certain terms and agreements. Digit Insurance already has general insurance operations through Go Digit General Insurance.

 

4. India tops world ranking in digital payments: India with 89.5 million digital transactions in the year 2022 has topped the list of five countries in digital payments, according to data from MyGovIndia. India accounted for 46% of the global real-time payments in 2022, more than the other four leading countries combined. Brazil is second on the list with 29.2 million transactions, followed by China with 17.6 million transactions. On number 4 is Thailand with 16.5 million digital transactions followed by South Korea with 8 million worth of transactions.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Govt announces second edition of Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced the second edition of Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman. Under the Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman 2023, thirty-three Sammans will be given out under three categories, Print, Television, and Radio in twenty-two Indian languages and English. Eleven Sammans in 22 Indian languages and English will be conferred under the category Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Newspaper. Eleven Sammans in 22 Indian languages and English will be conferred under the category Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Electronic Media (TV). Eleven Sammans in 22 Indian languages and English will be conferred under the category Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Electronic Media (Radio).

 

2. Paterson Joseph wins RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2023: Author Paterson Joseph was conferred with the 2023 Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize for his debut novel ‘The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho’. This book is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Charles Ignatius Sancho, who was the first Black man to vote in England The RSL Christopher Bland Prize is an annual award that is given to a debut writer for their work of fiction or non-fiction, who is first published at the age of 50 or over. The winner receives a prize money of £10,000. This is the fifth year of the award. ‘The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho’ is a historical fiction novel that tells the lesser-known story of Charles Ignatius Sancho, who was the first Black man to vote in England. The story was initially written and performed by Joseph as a one-man show in 2018.