Current Affairs – June 11, 2018 S.No Topic Page Number 1 Important Days 2 2 World News 3 - 4 3 National News 5 - 6 4 State News 7 - 8 5 Banking & Economy 9 - 10 6 Sports 11 - 12 7 Awards & Honours 13 8 Appointments & Resignation 14 - 15 9 Science & Technology 16 - 17 10 Obtiuaries 18 1 Important Days Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla inaugurated the Green Mizoram Day 2018 On 11th June 2018, Green Mizoram Day was observed throughout Mizoram. On this day government employees, students and members of NGOs planted large number of trees. Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla inaugurated the Green Mizoram Day 2018. The function was attended by cabinet ministers, legislators and senior government officials. The trees were planted as a part of this event along the Chite River in Aizawl. The Green Mizoram Day is observed every year on 11th June since 1999. 2 World News PM Narendra Modi leaves for Chinese city of Qingdao to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit On June 11, 2018, the 18th SCO summit concluded with the adoption of ‘Qingdao Declaration’. The SCO Action plan for 2019 to 2020 was also signed. This is the first time India is participating as a full member of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) . SCO Summit 2018 to focus on security, terrorism, drug control PM Modi calls for meaningful cooperation of SCO member countries towards security, economic development & connectivity in the region On June 9, 2018, on the sidelines of the SCO summit India and China signed 2 agreements on Brahmaputra water data sharing and non-basmati rice export. On June 9, 2018, India and China agreed on jointly undertaking an economic project in Afghanistan. Mauritius to host 11th World Hindi Conference On June 11, 2018, As part of the visit of the South African nations by the External Afffairs Minister Sushma Swaraj , she stopped by Port Louis to inspect the work on the 11th World Hindi Conference which will be hosted by Mauritius Government from August 18- 20 2018. The Event is organized by the Indian External Affairs Ministry every 3 years. This year the organizing authority is World Hindi Secretariat located in Mauritius . The government has been suggested to support major Hindi scholars as this might be a public relations exercise before the 2019 general elections. Special focus of this year’s event will be on Bollywood and the global reach of Hindi through movies. The Conference will cover both the classical and modern elements of Hindi. The 10th World Hindi Conference was held in Bhopal in September 2015. 3 44th G7 Summit Concludes in Canada The 44th G7 summit was held on June 8–9, 2018, in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada. This was the sixth time since 1981 that Canada has hosted the meetings. The 44th G7 summit was the first summit for Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. The 45th G7 summit will be held in Summer 2019 in Biarritz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The G7 is a group seven countries that is the largest advanced economies in the world. The countries include United States, United Kingdom Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan. 4 National News Met dept to use flash flood guidance system for first time to forecast floods On June 11, 2018, The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) will be able to issue forecast on floods and guidance on the preventive measures to the disaster management agencies with the help of a new soil study data named: ‘Flash Flood Guidance System’. IMD would launch this service by July 2018. The soil study done from different soil types of different regions will also be accompanied by the rain forecast to ascertain how much water would be left behind after absorption into the ground. The state and district-level farmers’ bodies and disaster management agencies will be given appropriate guidance for flood preparedness. In plains like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where the soil is more absorbent, 10 to 20 cm of rainfall will not cause floods. In hilly areas like Uttarakhand, where the soil is less absorbent, same amount of rainfall is enough to cause floods. Presently, the Central Water Commission (CWC) gives out flood warnings. IT Minister launches 5000 Wi-Fi Choupals, delivery of rail tickets through CSCs On June 11, 2018, Union Minister for Electronics & IT and Law Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad launched major services showcasing the impact and progress made by the Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) in promoting rural Wi-Fi network infrastructure. This was launched in a conference organized by CSC SPV. 5000 Wi-Fi choupals have been launched to provide Internet connectivity to the 2.5 lakh gram panchayats through optical fiber cable. Mou between CSC and IRCTC has been signed for availability of railway services like booking railway tickets etc. through CSC centres. IndusInd bank will provide CSR support CSC SPV for digital literacy of 3 lakh candidates through PMGDISHA. 2.90 lakh CSCs will be able to work as Business Correspondents (BCs). 5 CSC will also be used for first line maintenance of Bharat Net in the country. Eight States to implement ‘Ayushman Bharat’ Eight States and four Union Territories have signed MoUs with the Union Health Ministry to implement the government’s ambitious national health protection mission — Ayushman Bharat — which aims to provide a cover of Rs.5 lakh per family annually to 10 crore vulnerable families. The eight States which signed the MoUs to implement the Ayushman Bharat: National Health Protection Mission include Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. The Union Territory of Chandigarh is among the four UTs. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu would sign the agreement soon. 6 State News CM releases special booklet on 80-years of Odisha Budget On June 11, 2018, The special booklet titled ’80-years of Odisha Budget – A Commemorative Volume’ was released by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Odisha’s annual budget was only Rs 1.77 crore for the year 1936-37 which has increased to Rs 1,20,028 crore in 2018-19. Odisha is the first state in the country to bring out such a compilation. The state government has come up with a separate agricultural budget in 2016 with focused attention on the agricultural sector. In the year of 2000, the budget had only been Rs 14,000 crore. Haryana to organise awareness campaign for farmers From 20th June to 15th July 2018, Awareness programmes will be held at the village, block and district levels for farmers in Haryana. These programmes will create awareness on the negative effects of stubble burning, its alternatives and several farmer welfare schemes. Principal Secretary of Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Abhilaksh Likhi said that, the programmes will be supervised by senior officials. Seminars will be conducted in all districts as part of the campaign. The deputy directors of departments have been directed to ensure maximum participation of the farmers. Abhilaksh Likhi said that, farmers should be taught about modern agriculture techniques of the current time. He said that the agriculture department had created a portal in which officers will upload the biodata of farmers from their respective districts. The portal will share information about progressive farmers. ITC to Unveil Integrated Food Unit In Tamil Nadu Soon The Hindu ITC may unveil the first phase of its integrated food manufacturing and logistics facility at Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu by the second quarter of 2018-19. 7 Products such as biscuits, atta, and noodles would be manufactured at this plant. Threat to Bannerghatta buffer zone At least 73 eco-sensitive villages, of which 22 are ‘red list’ villages, have been left out of the buffer zone of the Bannerghatta National Park, which remains Bengaluru’s last big, urban forest. ‘Red list’ comprises villages that are adjacent to the forest and are highly eco-sensitive. 8 Banking & Economy RBI to raise $30-35 bn via NRI bonds to support rupee: Report On June 11, 2018, on the backdrop of rising oil prices and shortfall in FPI inflows to the country the RBI is expected to raise $30-35 billion via NRI bonds to raise the rupee. FPI has been slowed down amidst political volatility and with listing of Chinese forms in global benchmark indices. China market could list a $100 billion in 2019 . RBI would release a fourth tranche of NRI bonds RBI will issue NRI bonds if the global oil prices persist at USD 70/bbl. NRI bonds are forex deposits raised from non-resident Indians at attractive rates for 3-5 years, with some lock-in and an implicit RBI guarantee. RBI is expected to follow an asymmetrical policy of buying forex when the USD weakens and defending Rs66/USD when it strengthens. The rupee has been falling against the US dollar, the Indian currency is seen at Rs 69.75/USD by December. The rupee is currently hovering around Rs 67/USD. Government may launch Rs 500 crore credit enhancement fund in July On June 11, 2018, The government is likely to launch a Rs 500-crore credit enhancement fund next month to facilitate infrastructure investments by insurance and pension funds. This will help in upgrading credit ratings of bonds issued by infrastructure companies and facilitate investment from investors like pension and insurance funds. The initial corpus of the fund, to be sponsored by IIFCL (India Infrastructure Finance Company), will be Rs 500 crore, and it will operate as a non-banking finance company. IIFCL will hold a 22.5 per cent stake in the NBFC, while the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has offered to pick up a 10 per cent stake, SBI, Bank of Baroda and LIC will also have stakes in the firm.