Daily GK Update- 5th June, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. School Education Department Signs MoU with National Book Trust to Create Institutional Framework for Rashtriya E-Pustakalaya: The Department of School Education, Ministry of Education, has signed an MoU with the National Book Trust to establish an institutional framework for Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, a pioneering digital library platform. This collaboration aims to enhance the accessibility of non-academic books for children and adolescents across India. The digital library aims to resolve the ‘last mile’ accessibility issue for many states by offering over 10,000 books in more than 100 languages within the next 2-3 years. Currently, over 1,000 books in 23 languages are available.

 

2. Tata Motors form subsidiary for Commercial Vehicle: Tata Motors has announced the formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary for its commercial vehicle business. The owned subsidiary will be called TML Commercial Vehicle Ltd (TMLCVL). TMLCVL is proposed to be incorporated with a paid-up capital of ₹10,00,000 comprising of 5,00,000 equity shares of face value of ₹2 each fully paid-up cash. Earlier the company had announced the demerger of its passenger and commercial vehicle business into a separate entity. Further Tata Motors Finance Ltd (TMFCL) will be merged with Tata Capital Ltd (TCL).

 

3. IndiGo to host IATA annual general meeting in Delhi: IndiGo will host the 81st annual general meeting of the International Airport Transport Association (IATA) in Delhi in June 2025. The meeting will be held in the country after a gap of 42 years. The decision to host the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in India was made at the ongoing AGM here. India has hosted the AGM twice in the past in Delhi — in 1958 and 1983.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir elected Iceland’s President: Businesswoman and investor, Halla Tomasdottir has been elected as Iceland’s seventh President. She will be sworn in on 1 August 2024 and replace the incumbent president, Guana Johannesson. The President of Iceland has a term of four years. The president is elected directly by the people. Iceland is a parliamentary democracy and the post of president is largely ceremonial. The real executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister, who heads the council of ministers.

 

2. 5 June – World Environment Day: World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5.

This day is dedicated to raising awareness and taking action for the protection of our environment. Theme 2024 – Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be held in Riyadh in December 2024.

3. Netherlands Emerges as India’s 3rd Largest Export Destination in 2023-24: The Netherlands became India’s third-largest export market in the fiscal year 2023–24, after the US and the UAE. This was the case even though India’s total exports of goods fell by 3%, according to reports from the Commerce Ministry.

 

4. Slovenia Recognizes Palestinian State Following European Trend: After a vote in parliament with 52 votes in favor, Slovenia legally recognized Palestine as a sovereign state on June 4. This puts Slovenia in the same group as Spain, Norway, and Ireland, all of which have recently recognized Palestine.

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Reverse Transcriptase: Key Player in COVID Testing and Research: During the COVID-19 pandemic, reverse transcriptase got a lot of attention because it was so important in making diagnostic tests for finding the SARS-2 virus. Molecular diagnostics has relied on it for quick and accurate tests, which has helped a lot.

 

2. IIT Dharwad Unveils Innovative Fire Rescue Drone: At the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad, a groundbreaking team lead by Sudheer Siddapureddy and Ameer Mulla created a fire rescue assistant drone that was shown off. This is a new step forward in fire safety. At the DDANFR ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SEBI sets up committee to review ownership, economic structure of clearing corporations: Financial market regulator SEBI has formed a committee to review the ownership and economic structure of clearing corporations and suggest measures to ensure that those entities function as resilient, independent, and neutral risk managers. The ad-hoc committee will be chaired by Usha Thorat, who was a former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The market regulator said given the substantial growth of Indian securities markets in recent years, clearing corporations as central risk management institutions are important.

 

2. Goldman Sachs boosts India GDP forecast to 6.9% for CY24: Foreign brokerage Goldman Sachs has upped India GDP growth forecast by 20 basis points to 6.9 per cent this calendar year from an earlier projection of 6.7 per cent. This follows the stronger-than-expected GDP growth print of 7.8 per cent for the January-March 2024 quarter on the back of strong investment demand and a recovery in consumption growth. For the current fiscal (2024-25), Goldman Sachs has projected India’s GDP growth at 6.8 per cent.

 

3. SEBI launches ‘Saarthi 2.0’ mobile app for investors: The market regulator SEBI has unveiled its latest mobile app, ‘Saa ₹thi 2.0’, designed to help investors manage their personal finances. The app is packed with tools to make complex financial concepts easier to understand. The ‘Saa ₹thi 2.0’ app comes with a user-friendly interface and includes:

 

4. PNB partners with IIFCL to provide financing for infrastructure projects: Punjab National Bank (PNB), a leading public sector bank, has signed an MoU with India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) to collaborate in financing of infrastructure projects. Under this collaboration, the parties can mutually participate under consortium/multiple lending arrangement to provide financial support to the prospective borrowers subject to due diligence and on case-to-case basis. This MoU is expected to be a milestone in finding new avenues of lending to the infrastructure projects of the country.

 

5. Axis Bank partners with Bajaj Allianz for strategic bancassurance: Axis Bank and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance have entered a strategic bancassurance partnership to boost insurance penetration and financial inclusion in the country. Under this Bancassurance tie-up, a comprehensive suite of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance products will be distributed through Axis Bank’s network of 5,250 plus branches. The suite of insurance solutions would include personal insurance products such as motor insurance, health insurance, home insurance, travel insurance, and commercial insurance products, including engineering and marine insurance.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Siddhalinga Pattanashetti wins Gudleppa Hallikeri Award 2024: Poet and playwright Siddhalinga Pattanashetti has been chosen for the prestigious Gudleppa Hallikeri Award for 2024 by the Gudleppa Hallikeri Memorial Foundation, Hosaritti (Haveri District). Pattanashetti will be the 19th recipient of the award. The award comprises a purse of ₹25,000 and a memento. People who have made important contributions to literature, society, or social service are recognized with the Gudleppa Hallikeri Award. It was named for a famous freedom fighter named Gudleppa Hallikeri who believed in the same things that Mahatma Gandhi did.

 

Daily GK Update- 4th June, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Centre launches new mobile Number Series for Service, Transactional Calls: The Centre has introduced a new numbering series, 160xxxxxxx, for making service or transactional calls, to help citizens easily identify legitimate calls and curb unsolicited voice calls from telemarketers using 10-digit mobile numbers. Currently, 140xxxxxxx series has been allocated to telemarketers for making promotional/service/transactional voice calls. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said in a statement that since the 140xx series is being used extensively for promotional calls, “consumers normally do not respond to such calls, and many important service/transactional calls are missed”.

 

2. Nokia, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya sign MoU to research in 5G/ 6G communications: Finnish telecom gearmaker Nokia has signed an agreement with the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) for carrying out joint research related to 5G/6G communications in the transportation and logistics sector. Nokia and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, a university under the Ministry of Railways, will collaborate on research opportunities in 5G/6G communications targeting air, land and sea transportation use cases, as well as standards development, smart factory/ automation, and AI/GenAI labs.

 

3. Zupee collaborates with Gurugram Cyber Police for Cyber Security awareness: India’s largest skill-based Ludo platform, Zupee has partnered with Gurugram Cyber Police for the 11th edition of the Cyber Security Summer Internship Program, titled ‘Cyber Warriors’. The month-long internship aims to train selected candidates in cyber security under the guidance of experts, fostering responsible digital citizenship and tackling real-world cyber threats. 15,000 applications were received, with 1,100 interns selected, including working professionals and college students, to undergo immersive cyber security training.

 

4. PV Sindhu becomes brand ambassador for Greenday’s ‘Better Nutrition’: Indian badminton star, two-time Olympic medalist, and World Champion PV Sindhu has announced her investment and brand ambassadorship with Greenday’s ‘Better Nutrition’ brand. This collaboration aims to combat micronutrient deficiencies in India through biofortified foods, enhancing both consumer health and farmer livelihoods. The company works closely with farmers, educating, empowering, and incentivising them to cultivate nutrient-dense crop varieties.

 

5. Sushil Kr Singh named Chairperson of Deendayal Port Authority: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sushil Kumar Singh (IRSME) as Chairperson of Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Singh has been appointed as Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority in place of SK Mehta (IFoS) with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post, for an overall tenure up to the date of his superannuation on January 31, 2027 or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Singh is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME) officer of 1993-batch

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 21st Shangri La Dialogue Ends in Singapore: The 21st edition of the Asia Pacific premier defence meet, Shangri La Dialogue or the Asian Security Summit, concluded in Singapore. The Shangri La Dialogue was held at the Shangri La Hotel in Singapore. It was attended by over a hundred delegates from Asia Pacific regions and from other parts of the world. The Dialogue brings together security practitioners, including defence ministers, senior officials and non-governmental stakeholders, to discuss the most pressing security challenges in the Asia-Pacific, engage in bilateral discussions, and identify fresh approaches.

 

2. Claudia Sheinbaum becomes first woman President of Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum secured a sweeping win to become Mexico’s first female president. She succeeded her mentor and outgoing leader, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose strong support among the impoverished contributed to her victory. The 61-year-old climate scientist and former policymaker had between 58.3 per cent and 60.7 per cent of the vote, according to a statistical sample. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez had between 26.6 per cent and 28.6 per cent of the vote and Jorge Álvarez Máynez had between 9.9 per cent and 10.8 per cent of the vote.

 

3. 2 June – International Sex Workers’ Day: International Sex Workers Day is commemorated on June 2 every year. This day is observed to honour the sex workers and recognise the hardships they go through. The International Sex Workers’ Day, advocates for improved working conditions and respect for sex workers. On June 2, 1975, hundreds of sex workers occupied the Saint-Nazier church in Lyon, France to protest against the harassment by the police, fines levied by the law enforcement and to press them to investigate the murders and exploitation of sex workers.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Helen Mary becomes first woman brigadier in Pakistan Army from minority community: Dr Helen Mary Roberts, serving in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, has made history by becoming the first woman from Christian and minority community to achieve the rank of brigadier in the Muslim-majority country. Brigadier Helen was among Pakistan Army officers promoted as brigadiers and full colonels by the Selection Board. Brigadier Dr. Helen is senior pathologist and has been serving in the Pakistan Army for the last 26 years. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics in 2021, there are 96.47 per cent Muslims in the country, followed by 2.14 per cent Hindus, 1.27 per cent Christians, 0.09 per cent Ahmadi Muslims and 0.02 per cent others.

SPORTS

 

1. Real Madrid’s Historic 15th Champions League Title: Real Madrid etched their name in the history books once again by securing a record-extending 15th UEFA Champions League title. The Spanish giants showcased their trademark resilience and clinical edge, overcoming a valiant Borussia Dortmund side with a 2-0 victory. With this triumph, Real Madrid extended their remarkable run of success in Europe, securing their sixth Champions League title in 11 seasons.

This feat matches the legendary team that initiated Real’s love affair with the European Cup, having won the first five editions from 1956 and another in 1966.

 

2. Nayana James win gold medal in long jump at Taiwan Athletics Open 2024: Indian athlete Nayana James clinched the gold medal in the women’s long jump event at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 in Chinese Taipei. An Asian Athletics Championships bronze medallist, Nayana recorded a distance of 6.43m for the top step on the podium in rainy conditions at the Taipei Municipal Stadium. Nayana beat Japan’s Sumire Hata, the reigning Asian champion, for the gold medal. Hata won the silver with a best effort of 6.37m while Yu Jeongmi of the Republic of Korea settled for bronze with 6.14m.

 

3. India batter Kedar Jadhav announces retirement: India and Maharashtra batter Kedar Jadhav has announced his retirement from international cricket, four years since his last appearance for the national team. The 39-year-old, who made his international debut for India in November 2014 during an ODI against Sri Lanka at Ranchi, went on to play 73 one-dayers as well as nine T20Is. Jadhav scored 1,389 runs at an average of 42.09 with two centuries and six fifties for India in 73 ODIs. He also made 122 runs in the six innings of the nine T20 Internationals that he played.

 

4. ICC announces ‘Highest Ever’ Prize Money for T20 World Cup 2024: The International Cricket Council has announced a record prize purse of USD 11.25 million (approx INR 93.5 crore) for the 2024 T20 World Cup with the winners pocketing at least USD 2.45 million (approx INR 20.36 crore). The runners-up will receive at least USD 1.28 million (Rs 10.36 crore), while the losing semi-finalists walk away with USD 787,500 each. The previous edition in 2022 had a total prize pool of USD 5.6 million with winners England receiving USD 1.6 million. The four teams that fail to make it out of the Super 8s will earn USD 382,500 each, while the teams placed ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th receive USD 247,500 each. Participants who finish 13th to 20th place will return $225,000 each.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. DBS retains India GDP growth forecast at 7% for FY25: Singapore-headquartered DBS Bank expects India’s economic growth to stay in the 7 percent handle in the April-June 2024 quarter.

Thus, foreign bank also retained its India GDP growth forecast for current fiscal at 7 per cent. Stable global growth, public and household capex investments, rural recovery, a normal monsoon, and better composition of trade backs our optimistic view. This came on the heels of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) recently announcing that the country’s fourth quarter (Jan-Mar 2024) GDP rose 7.8 per cent year-on-year and economic growth for full fiscal 2023-24 grew at robust 8.2 per cent.

 

 

Daily GK Update- 3rd Jun, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SC reconstitutes committee on gender sensitization: The Supreme Court has reconstituted its Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee. In exercise of powers conferred by Clause 4(2) of the Gender Sensitisation and Sexual Harassment of Women at the Supreme Court of India (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Regulations, 2013 and all enabling provisions in this behalf, Hon’ble Chief Justice of India has been pleased to re-constitute the Supreme Court Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee. The 12-member committee is headed by top court judge Hima Kohli, who is the chairperson.

 

2. Telangana Marks Decade Since Formation from Andhra Pradesh: Telangana Formation Day on June 2, which marks ten years since India’s newest state was formed from Andhra Pradesh. The Congress-led UPA government made it easier for the state to form by passing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. The 2023

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Krishn Kanhai unveils ‘The Golden Krishna’ Exhibition in Dubai: Renowned Indian artist Krishn Kanhai unveiled his latest collection, “The Golden Krishna,” in a grand opening ceremony. The exhibition showcases Kanhai’s exquisite new works centered around Lord Krishna. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a breathtaking life-sized, three-dimensional painting of Tirupati Balaji, meticulously crafted with 24-karat gold and measuring an impressive 5 feet by 8 feet. This masterpiece exemplifies Kanhai’s signature style, which has captivated art lovers worldwide. Kanhai, a Padma Shri recipient, has held exhibitions in major cities like Hong Kong, London and countries like the Philippines and the United States.

 

2. Ruchira Kamboj, India’s first woman Permanent Representative to UN, retires: India’s first woman Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj retired after 35 years of service, during which she served as Indian envoy in Bhutan, South Africa and UNESCO. Kamboj, a 1987-batch IFS officer. Kamboj, who was the All India women’s topper of the 1987 Civil Services batch and the topper of the 1987 Foreign Service batch, formally assumed the position of Permanent Representative/ Ambassador of India to New York, on August 2, 2022.

 

3. 3 June – World Bicycle Day: World Bicycle Day is celebrated every year on 3 June. This day highlights the importance of the bicycle as a simple, affordable, clean, and sustainable means of transportation. It encourages using bicycles for a healthy lifestyle and promotes their role in building a greener environment. In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly announced that World Bicycle Day will be celebrated every year on June 3. The theme this year, the designated theme for World Bicycle Day is Promoting Health, Equity, and Sustainability through Cycling.

 

4. 3 June – World Cyder Day: World Cyder Day is observed every year on 3 June. The World Cider Day on June 3rd is an international declaration of love for the popular cult drink. It symbolizes the beginning of the apple cider season all over the world. The Apple Cider Day aims to generate publicity for the wide variety and characteristics of apple cider, to whet people’s appetite for apple cider, to provide information about apple cider.

 

5. 3 June – World Clubfoot Day: World Clubfoot Day is observed every year on 3 June. Globally believed to have been designated by the Ponseti International Association or the PIA, in commemoration of the birthday of Dr Ignacio Ponseti (1914-2009), the developer of the Ponseti Method for treating clubfoot. According to Ponseti International, clubfoot is the most common “musculoskeletal birth deformity, affecting 2,00,000 newborn children each year, 80 per cent in the developing countries”.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Forces Join US-Hosted Multinational War Games: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy are both taking part in military drills with other countries that are being held by the US. In Alaska, the Indian Air Force is taking part in the aerial combat training

 

SPORTS

 

1. India’s DP Manu wins gold in javelin throw at Taiwan Athletics Open 2024: DP Manu from India won the gold medal in Javelin throw at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024, achieving a distance of 81.58 meters. Initially, he started with a throw of 78.32 meters, then improved to 80.59 meters in the third attempt. However, he clinched the top position in the competition during his sixth and final attempt, surpassing his previous mark. Chao Tsun Cheng of Chinese Taipei earned the silver medal with a throw of 76.21 meters.

 

2. India bag 7 medals at Taiwan Athletics Open: In the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024, the Indian contingent concluded the campaign with a remarkable medal haul, bagging seven medals including three golds, three silvers and one bronze medal. In women’s Long Jump, Nayana James clinched the gold medal, registering the best jump of 6.43 metres. Sumire Hata of Japan won the silver. In Men’s 800 metres, India’s Ankesh Choudhary bagged the gold, clocking 1 minute 50.63 seconds, while compatriot Somnath Chouhan won the silver medal clocking 1 minute 50.88 seconds. In Men’s pole vault, Dev Meena won the silver medal.

 

3. Tanvi Sharma bags women’s singles title of Bonn International Badminton Tournament: India’s Tanvi Sharma bagged the women’s singles title at the Bonn International Badminton Tournament in Germany. The young Indian shuttler defeated Wang Pei Yu of Taiwan in straight sets, 21-19, 22-20. This is the first senior title for the 15-year-old Tanvi.

 

4. Dinesh Karthik announces retirement from all forms of cricket: Days after announcing retirement from the Indian Premier League tournament, ace Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik announced retirement from all formats of cricket. He last played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2024 Eliminator on 22 May. Karthik played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is for India in a career spanning nearly two decades since he first represented the country in the 50-overs format against England at Lord’s in September 2004.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Kerala Introduces Artificial Intelligence Learning in School Textbooks: Kerala has introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning in the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) textbook for Class 7 students. This initiative aims to familiarize over 4 lakh students with AI in the upcoming academic year, marking a significant step towards enhancing technological education in the state. This move is poised to impact over 4 lakh students across Kerala, who will now have the opportunity to delve into the realm of AI in the upcoming academic year, according to a release issued by the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE).

 

2. ISRO and Wipro 3D Collaborate on 3D-Printed Rocket Engine: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Wipro 3D have successfully manufactured a 3D-printed rocket engine, the PS4, set to power the fourth stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This groundbreaking achievement, lauded by Dr. V. Narayanan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at ISRO, marks a paradigm shift in space manufacturing, ushering in the era of additive manufacturing for space exploration. The PSLV, ISRO’s workhorse launch vehicle for earth observation and scientific satellites, relies on its fourth stage, the PS4, for precise orbital placement.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank and Mastercard Introduce NFC Soundbox: Axis Bank has partnered with Mastercard to launch NFC Soundbox. The new soundbox will act as an all-in-one solution that will allow the users to accept Bharat QR, UPI, Tap & Pay and Tap + Pin payments. This device aligns with the Bank’s asset lite strategy to provide products/solutions of superior quality at an affordable price.

The NFC Soundbox will help the Bank further penetrate the small merchant segments with cost-effective and simple payment solutions that are secure and compliant with PCI standards.

 

2. GST collection rises 10% to Rs 1.73 lakh crore in May: The gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue for the month of May 2024 stood at ₹1.73 lakh crore. In the month of May, 2024, the Central Government settled ₹38,519 crore to CGST and ₹32,733 crore to SGST from the net IGST collected of ₹67,204 crore. This translates to a total revenue of ₹70,928 crore for CGST and ₹72,999 crore for SGST in May, 2024, after regular settlement. This represents a 10% year-on-year growth, driven by a strong increase in domestic transactions (up 15.3%) and slowing of imports (down 4.3%).

 

 

Daily GK Update- 2nd Jun, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. First Successful Pig Liver Transplant in Cancer Patient: A man with advanced liver cancer who is 71 years old is the first person in history to receive a liver donation from a genetically modified pig. This is a huge step forward in medicine. Doctors at Anhui Medical University’s ..

 

2. AI Helps Search for Endangered Plant’s Female Partner: Artificial intelligence (AI) is used to help researchers find a female partner for E. woodii, also known as the “world’s loneliest plant.” This project aims to naturally spread the species, which is now extinct in the wild and can only

 

3. Reliance, Tata, SII in TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies 2024: The Tata Group, Adar Poonawalla’s Serum Institute of India (SII), and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) were named by TIME magazine as some of the most important companies in the world in 2024. This recognition shows how important these.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. BFI agrees to become a member of World Boxing: The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has agreed to become a member of World Boxing, the International Federation established to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement. The membership application has been approved by the BFI’s General Assembly, and will be ratified by World Boxing’s Executive Board.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. The BFI president, Ajay Singh, recently met with World Boxing’s President and Secretary General to discuss ways in which India can support the International Federation in growing its member base in Asia where FBI is one of the largest National Federation.

 

2. Zelenskyy Secures Military Pacts With Sweden, Norway: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine recently signed long-term security agreements with Sweden and Norway. These agreements show that Western countries are committed to helping Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. At the time of this event, Western partners were.

 

3. Mangroves in South India, Sri Lanka Labeled ‘Critically Endangered: Coastal mangroves in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives were recently rated as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN). According to the IUCN’s first global assessment of mangrove ecosystems, this scary classification shows that these ..

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Agnikul Cosmos Launches First 3D Printed Rocket Engine: A company called Agnikul Cosmos, which was started at IIT Madras, made history on May 30, 2024, by safely launching “Agnibaan – SOrTeD,” the world’s first rocket powered by a fully 3D-printed engine. This important event happened at Sriharikota from ..

 

SPORTS

 

1. Bernadine Bezuidenhout retires from international cricket: New Zealand cricketer Bernadine Bezuidenhout announced her retirement from international cricket. The 30-year-old appeared in 4 ODIs, and 7 T20Is for South Africa after that she switched to New Zealand. Bezuidenhout played 16 ODIs and 22 T20Is for the Kiwis in the international cricket. Bezuidenhout played her maiden international cricket in 2014 for the Proteas. In 2015, she relocated to Christchurch and was picked in New Zealand’s squad in 2018 after her end of a two-year residential stand-down in August 2017.

 

2. Indian-American Bruhat Soma wins Scripps National Spelling Bee: Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old Indian-American seventh-grade student from Florida, has won the Scripps National Spelling Bee after he spelt 29 words correctly in the tiebreaker, maintaining the dominance of the children from the small ethnic community in the prestigious competition. Bruhat emerged victorious in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, earning more than $50,000 in cash and other prizes. This year’s contest came down to a tiebreaker in which Bruhat spelt 29 words correctly in 90 seconds, beating Faizan Zaki, who managed to correctly spell 20 words in the lightning round.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. OSIRIS-APEX Safely Navigates Close Sun Approach: The OSIRIS-APEX project has changed since its start as OSIRIS-REx, which successfully took samples from the asteroid Bennu. The spacecraft is now on a longer mission that includes a move to visit the asteroid Apophis. In this new phase, the.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI cancels 10-year green bond auction for first time: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the auction of 10-year green bonds as traders refused to pay greenium. Greenium signifies the premium investors are willing to pay for green bonds because of their sustainability impact. Funds generated via the sale of green bonds will be allocated to public-sector projects aimed at decreasing the carbon footprint of the economy. Diverging from the pattern of issuing green bonds in the latter half, the government plans to issue green bonds worth Rs 12,000 crore in the first half of the current financial year.

 

2. RBI imposes monetary penalty on SBM Bank (India): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 88.70 lakh on SBM Bank (India) for non-compliance with certain regulatory norms. The central banks said the penalty has been imposed for non-compliance with licensing conditions imposed by the RBI, and specific directions to stop undertaking Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) transactions with immediate effect. The RBI said the bank was engaged business correspondents for establishing account-based relationship with customers from certain regions, despite its request being not acceded to by RBI.

 

3. India’s GDP grows 8.2% in FY24 against 7% in FY23: According to the provisional estimate of the National Statistical Organization (NSO), the Indian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 8.2 per cent in the financial year 2023-24. The Indian GDP growth rate in 2022-23 was 7 percent. This is the ninth time since 1960-61 the Indian GDP has grown by 8 per cent or more in a financial year. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, real GDP or GDP at constant prices is estimated to attain a level of over 173 lakh crore rupees in the year 2023-24.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. NIMHANS Wins Nelson Mandela Health Promotion Award 2024: The World Health Organization (WHO) has given the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion for 2024 to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru. NIMHANS is known as India’s top mental health center.