TABLE OF CONTENTS S. No. Chapter Name Page No. 1. RBI ANNUAL REPORT 2020-21 1 2. INTERNATIONAL AND BILATERAL 2 3. NATIONAL 3-6 4. STATES 7-9 5. ECONOMY AND BANKING 10-14 6. RBI UPDATES 15-16 7. SCHEMES & INITIATIVES 17-18 8. CABINET APPROVALS 19 9. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 20-21 10. DEFENCE 22 11. AWARDS AND HONOURS 23-24 12. SPORTS 25-26 13. OBITUARIES 27-28 14. PERSONS IN NEWS 29 15. REPORTS, INDICES AND RANKINGS 30 16. COMMITTEES 31 17. SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES 32 18. APPOINTMENTS 33 19. DAYS AND THEMES 34-35 20. BOOKS AND AUTHORS 35 21. VARIOUS TYPES OF ATMs 35 22. CURRENT AFFAIRS PRACTICE QUESTIONS 36-52 • Telegram: https://t.me/IACE4GovtJobs • YouTube: https://rb.gy/zhm0ll June 2021 – Digest 1. RBI ANNUAL REPORT 2020 - 21 Highlights of RBI Annual Report 2020 - 21 Various initiatives such as an innovation hub, a Foreign Exchange: Gain from foreign exchange regulatory sandbox and offline payment solutions transactions rose from Rs 29,993 crore to Rs are underway to ensure that in the digital 50,629 crore in 2020 - 21. ecosystem, India maintains its position as a leader. Surplus transfer to the g overnment: It transferred The RBI is also in the process of extending the Rs. 99,122 crore to the government which is likely geo - tagging framework put in place to capt ure to boost the government’s finances. It helped the location of bank branches and ATMs to cover governme nt even as the Covid pandemic payment system touch points, enabling accurate continued. capture of their location across the country. Rupee against d ollar: The rupee strengthened by Ensuring l iquidity: The RBI will ensure a 3.5% against the US dollar (at end - March 2021 comfortable level of liquidity in the system during over end - March 2020) but underperformed vis - a - 2021 - 22 in alignment with the stance of monetary vis other Asian countries during 2020 - 21. policy. This is exemplified by the introduction of Decreased bank f rauds: Bank frauds of Rs.1 lakh the secondary market G - sec acquisition and more fell by 25% in value to Rs.1.38 trillion programme (G - SAP). in the year 2020 - 21 with the number of such cases Economic g rowth :As the vaccination drive picks also seeing a decline of 15% during the year. up and cases of infections fall, a sharp turnaround Digital p ayments :The Covid - 19 pandemic in growth is likely, supported by strong favourable increased the proliferation of digital modes of base effects. payments. The base effect refers to the effect that the choice Total digital transaction volume in 2020 - 21 stood of a basis of comparison or reference can have on at 4,371 crore, as against 3,412 crore in 2019 - 20. the result of the comparison between data points. The prospects for FinTech in India’s financial RBI predicted 10.5% GDP (Gross Domestic system in 2021 - 22 will depend upon the degree of Product) growth for the year 2021 - 22. entrenchment of digital usage. 1 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams) www.iace.co.in Toll Free: 1800 - 270 - 9975, Ph: 9533200400 • Telegram: https://t.me/IACE4GovtJobs • YouTube: https://rb.gy/zhm0ll June 2021 – Digest 2 . INTERNATIONAL AND BILATERAL Chi na’s p opulation growth records The U S will provide finance and technological l owest rate in decades: China Census assistance to India to meet its target. According to the 7th census conducted by John Kerry is the 1st American climate change China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), envoy with cabinet rank. China’s annual population growth stood at India is the 3rd CO2 emitter after China, USA. ‘0.53%’ in the last decade (2010 - 20), the lowest According to a recent report by the International since 1953. Energy Agency (IEA), India’s CO2 emission China’s population stood at 1.41 Billion in 2020, declined by 7% (or 160 Metric Tons of Carbon an increase of 72 million or 5.38% growth Dioxide) in 2020. compared to the last census in 2010. China – world’s first country to ban The main cause of slowing growth rate has been synthetic cannabinoids attributed to China’s ‘one - child policy’. China issued a total ban on synthetic China’s population is expected to reach its peak cannabinoids, thus becoming the world’s first in 2025. country to ban all synthetic cannabinoid According to Chinese demographers, India may substances. ov ertake China as the most populous country by Synthetic Cannabinoids are human made 2023 or 2024, much sooner than the UN projects chemicals. They are designer drugs. A designer of 2027. drug is a functional and structural analog of a Saudi Arabia j oins ‘Net Zero Producers controlled substance that is designed to mimic Forum’ on climate change the pharmacological effects of the or iginal drug. The five countries which are responsible for 40% World’s largest iceberg A - 76 breaks off of oil and gas production – Saudi Arabia ( the in Antarctica world’s biggest crude exporter), Qatar, the An enormous iceberg 'A - 76' has calved from the United States, Canada and Norway have western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf, lying in the launched a cooperative forum on climate called Weddell Sea, in Antarctica. “Net Zero Producers Forum”. It measures around 4320 sq km in size – By 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to reduce its carbon currently making it the largest berg in the world. emissions by generating 50% of the country’s The newly calved berg 'A - 76' was spotted in en ergy from renewables and the United States recent satellite images captured by the plans to achieve net - zero emission by 2050. Copernicus Sentinel - 1 mission. US President Joe Biden unveiled plans to cut Sentinel - 1 is one of the missions of the European emissions by 50% - 52% from 2005 levels. Space Agency (ESA) under Copernicus initiative U S set to partner with India to achieve (an earth observa tion programme). its t arget of 450 GW of RE by 2030 It has surpassed the now second - place A - 23A, The United States (US) is set to partner with about 3,380 sq km in size and also floating in the India on climate change, it will assist India to Weddell Sea achieve its target of deploying 450 GigaWatts Iceberg: An iceberg is ice that broke off from (GW) of Renewable Energy (RE) by 2030. glaciers or shelf ice and is floating in open water. It was stated by US Special Presidential Envoy Iceberg s travel with ocean curr ents and either get for Climate John Kerry. caught up in shallow waters or ground themselves. 2 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams) www.iace.co.in Toll Free: 1800 - 270 - 9975, Ph: 9533200400 • Telegram: https://t.me/IACE4GovtJobs • YouTube: https://rb.gy/zhm0ll June 2021 – Digest 3. NATIONAL Agriculture Ministry alloc ates R s 2250 Area of summer c rops i ncreased by crore for h orticulture sector for FY 21.58% in 2021 2021 - 22 Area of cultivation of summer c rops increased by The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers W elfare 21.58% in 2021 from 2020. i.e. s ummer crops (MoA&FW) has allocated R s 2250 c rore for the were c ultivated in 80.02 lakh hectares in 2021 as FY 2021 - 22 for ‘Mission for Integrated against 65.82 lakh hectares in 2020. Development of Horticulture’ (MIDH), a The i ncrease in the area of summer crops is centrally sponsored scheme. It aims at mainly due to the sharp increase in cultivation of developing the h orticulture sector in th e FY pulses area. Pulses were sowed in 17.75 lakh 2021 - 22. hectares in 2021 as against 10.49 lakh hectares in During the FY 2019 - 20, India recorded its 2020, which is a rise of almost 70% in cultivation highest ever horticulture production of 320.77 area. Million Tonnes (MT) from an area of 25.66 Cultivation area of Oilseeds increased by 12.05% million hectares. from 9.58 lakh hectares in 2020 to 10.7 4 lakh As per estimates for 2020 - 21, the total hectare in 2021. horticulture produ ction in India stood at 326.58 Cultivation area of Rice increased by 15.52% l akh MT from an area of 27.17 lakh h ectares. from 35.13 lakh hectares in 2020 to 39.43 lakh Mission for Integrated Development of hectare in 2021. Horticulture (MIDH) has been implemented MoSJE mandates States/UTs to issue since 2014 - 15.T he main objective is to ensure disability certificates through UDID holistic growth and development of Indian p ortal h orticulture sector. The Department of Empowerment of Persons Startup ‘ Jupitice’ develops w orld’s 1st wit h Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social private digital court for dispute Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) has issued a r esolution notification mandating all State/UT Governments ‘Jupitice Justice Technologies’, an Chandiga rh - to issue a certificate of disability through online based startup has developed w orld’s 1st Private mode only using Unique Disability ID Portal Digital Court (powered by Blockchain & (UDID Portal) – (www.swavl ambancard.gov.in) Artificial Intelligence) to resolve disputes under from June 1, 2021. the Private Justice System through Alternative The requirement of a c ertificate of disability is Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (ADR). mandated under the Rights of Persons with The startup has collected ADR professionals Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act, 2016). across the world to form its own ‘Marketplace’. • Union Minister o f Social Justice and It will make it easier for justice seekers to Empowerment – Thaawar Chand Gehlot (Rajya connect with justice providers.