Legend Magazine June – 2020

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LEGEND MAGAZINE

JUNE – 2020

(CURRENT AFFAIRS AND QUIZ,

ENGLISH VOCABULARY)

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NATIONAL NEWS: State Health Register will be robust and standardized health repository of all citizens. Power Finance Corporation signs MoU Tamil Nadu signs MoUs worth over Rs with NBPCL to fund hydro-electric 15,000 crore to generate 47,000 jobs Tamil Nadu signed 17 memorandums of projects in Madhya Pradesh: understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 15,128 Power Finance Corporation, under Ministry crore to generate 47,150 jobs in the state. of Power entered into an agreement with Daimler India, Salcomp and other Narmada Basin Projects Company Ltd., a companies would invest over Rs 15000 company of Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, to fund projects worth Rs.22,000 crore for 225 MW crore. The Government also signed MoUs for hydro-electric projects & multipurpose renewable energy projects. projects. Nirmala Sitharaman launches free Uttarakhand’s Char Dham Project to get instant PAN card facility through Aadhaar: a boost with 450 m tunnel built beneath Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Chamba Town: formally launched the facility for instant The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has allotment of PAN card using Aadhaar- completed construction of a 440 m long based e-KYC. The facility is now available for tunnel below the busy Chamba town on the all those Permanent Account Number Rishikesh-Dharasu road Highway (NH 94) . Indian Union Minister of Road Transport and (PAN) applicants who possess a valid Highways Nitin Gadkari lauded and Aadhaar number and have a mobile number congratulated the team for achieving this registered in the UIDAI database. feat. Andhra Pradesh government launches web portal for educational institutes to Karnataka governmentt to launch a upload details: project to maintain health database of all Andhra Pradesh has launched a web portal citizens: on schools and colleges will have to upload Karnataka governmentt to soon launch details regarding their infrastructure and project to maintain the health database of all its citizens undertaking a survey of all 6.5 other facilities. Student’s parents may visit Crore people. A first of its kind initiative the institutes and complain if the facilities

provided do not match the information It is a platform for artisans and craftsmen provided. from various parts of the country to showcase Decided during the ‘Our Governance, Your their art and craft and provides employment Suggestion’ session. and employment opportunities to more than Himachal to launch portal for five lakh Indian artisans, craftsmen, registration of returnees who lost jobs: culinary experts and other people The cabinet headed by Chief Minister Jai Ram associated with them in the last five years. Thakur launched of a portal for registration CIPET renamed as Central Institute of of people who returned to the state due to Petrochemicals Engineering job-loss and are either in need of employment &Technology: or upgrade of skills and decided to formulate Central Institute of Plastics Engineering a scheme for working capital requirements. & Technology (CIPET) was renamed as Uttar Pradesh government to develop Central Institute of Petrochemicals 800 km roads as Herbal roads: Engineering and Technology. CIPET is a Uttar Pradesh government will develop 800 premier national institution under the Ministry km roads as Herbal roads in the state. These of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of herbal roads will have medicinal and herbal India (GOI) . trees on both sides. ADB and India sign $177 million loan to Deputy Chief Minister and state PWD minister upgrade roads in Maharashtra: of state Keshav Prasad Maurya stated that Asian Development Bank and the Government these herbal roads will have trees like like of India signed a $177 million loan to Peepal, Neem, Sehjan along with other herb upgrade 450 kilometres of state highways varieties like brahmi, ashvagandha and and major district roads in the state of jatrofa. Maharashtra. This could improve the ‘Hunar Haat’ to restart from Sept 2020 connectivity between rural areas and urban with theme “Local to Global”: centres. Flagship programme of Ministry of Minority Archaeological Survey of India discovers Affairs ‘Hunar Haat’ will restart with the 9th century sandstone Shiva linga in theme of “Local to Global” from September Vietnam: 2020.

Archaeological Survey of India recently Plant of Kargil with five KW Solar Plant and discovered a monolithic sandstone Shiva linga three HP Submersible Pump (Kargil from 9th century CE, during an ongoing Renewable Energy Agency-KREDA ) at conservation project at My Son, a cluster of Yak Breeding Farm, Bodh Kharboo keeping in abandoned & partially ruined Hindu temples view the protocols of social distancing and in Quang Nam province in central Vietnam. Standard Operating Prcedures. Army Commanders’ Conference Uttarakhand launches Mukhyamantri commences in New Delhi: Swarozgar Yojana for returnee migrants: The Army Commanders’ Conference has Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra commenced in New Delhi. It is an apex level Singh Rawat inaugurated the Mukhyamantri biannual event that was earlier scheduled to Swarozgar Yojana. be held in April 2020, but was postponed due The scheme will offer credit facility through to COVID-19 pandemic. nationalised banks, scheduled In the first phase of Army Commanders’ commercial banks and cooperative Conference, the apex level leadership of banks. Indian Army will deliberate on various Madhya Pradesh Government creates aspects pertaining to operational and ‘Rojgar Setu Yojana’ to employ migrant administrative issues including studies workers: pertaining to logistics and human resources. State Government has created ‘Rojgar Setu State Health Register to be launched by Yojana’ to employ migrant workers, who Karnataka Government: have come back to the State from other states Karnataka State Government announced amid coronavirus-induced lockdown, stated that it will launch a “State Health Register” Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh to collect data of all its citizens. The register Chouhan. is first of its kind in the country. Madhya Pradesh Government is Kargil’s first Solar Lift Irrigation Plant preparing database under ‘Swamitva’ inaugurated in Ladakh: scheme: In Ladakh, Director of Animal, Sheep Madhya Pradesh Government is preparing a Husbandry and Fisheries Dr Mohammad database under the “Swamitva scheme” Raza inaugurated the first Solar Lift Irrigation launched on a pilot basis by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi on 24th April. The scheme NASSCOM is targeting for $500 billion aims to provide land ownership rights to export in next five years. people in rural areas. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad On the basis of the database prepared under launches National AI Portal of India: this scheme, land rights records and Minister for Electronics & IT, Law & Justice & property registers of rural settlements will Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad also be prepared at the panchayat level. launched India’s national Artificial Intelligence Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 22nd Meeting Portal called www.ai.gov.in. It was jointly of the Financial Stability and developed by MeiTY & IT Industry and he also Development Council (FSDC) : launched ‘Responsible AI for Youth’. The meeting also reviewed the current global Government approves Rs 445 cr for and domestic macro-economic situation, Chhattisgarh under Jal Jeevan Mission: financial stability and vulnerabilities Union Government has approved Rs 445 issues, issues likely to be faced by banks and crore for the implementation of Jal Jeevan other financial institutions like Mission in Chhattisgarh during 2020-21. Liquidity/Solvency of Non-Banking Chhattisgarh has planned to have 100 per Financial Companies (NBFCs) /housing cent Functional Tap Water Connection finance companies (HFCs) / Micro finance (FHTC) by 2023-24. Out of 45 lakh Institutions (MFIs) and other related households in the state, it has planned to issues. provide tap connections to 20 lakh Piyush Goyal attend Digital Summit on households. Exports organized by CII: Kerala to launch free internet project K- Minister for Commerce & Industry & Railways FON in December: Piyush Goyal participated in the Digital Kerala State government has announced the Summit on Exports organized by the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) project will be commissioned by December which has completed 125 years. EXIM Bank 2020. The project aims to provide free of India was the Institutional Partner for the internet access to the poor in the State. Chief Summit. Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the

decision after a meeting with the heads of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman companies of the consortium. informed that largely the Micro, Small and Jitendra Singh launched e-booklet on Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) located in DARPG achievements: over three thousand TIER-2 towns were Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public covered on the first day of sanctions of the Grievances and Pensions Dr.Jitendra Singh collateral free loans. has launched the e-booklet on Department of The amount 3,200 crore sanctioned will help Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances the MSMEs to meet the expenses towards (DARPG) achievements for the period 30 payment of salaries, rent and restocking of May 2019 to 30 May 2020. goods. ‘One Sun One World One Grid’: India Centre launches PM SVANIDHI scheme initiates talks on West to SE Asia solar for street vendors to get loans of up to grid: Rs.10,000: India has come up with a ‘One Sun One Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs World One Grid’ (OSOWOG) initiative to (MoHUA) has inked Memorandum of set up a framework for facilitating global Understanding (MoU) with Small Industries cooperation in this regard aiming at building Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has a global ecosystem of interconnected launched “PM SVANIDHI” -Pradhan Mantri renewable energy resources that can be Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi - a seamlessly shared. special micro-credit facility scheme for The Union Ministry of New and Renewable providing affordable loan to street vendors. It energy (MNRE), through this initiative, is aimed at enabling the street vendors to plans to build global consensus about sharing resume their livelihood. solar resources among more than 140 The scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh countries of West Asia and South East street vendors. Asia. Odisha, Sikkim, Mizoram join ‘One Public Sector Banks sanction collateral Nation-One Ration Card’ scheme: Ram free loans worth 3,200 crore rupees in a Vilas Paswan: single day under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Odisha, Sikkim and Mizoram are the three Abhiyan: more states that have been included under

the “One Nation One Ration Card” collateral-free loan scheme for MSMEs scheme. Consumer Affairs Minister announced by the FM. announced the inclusion of these states in the I&B Ministry releases e-booklet on scheme on Integrated Management of Public Narendra Modi govt 2.0's 1st year in Distribution System. The facility is enabled in office: 17 States and UTs so far. The 92-page booklet 'One Year of Modi 2.0 PM Modi announces “My Life My Yoga” -Towards A Self-Reliant India' has been Video Blogging contest in Man Ki Baat: brought out by the Ministry of Information Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon and Broadcasting. The booklet has a separate one and all to participate in the “My Life – section for the actions taken to fight the My Yoga” (also called “Jeevan Yoga”) pandemic and deal with the economic fallout Video Blogging Contest, a joint effort by the Punjab Chief Minister launches anti- Ministry of AYUSH and the Indian Council COVID awareness drive: for Cultural Relations (ICCR), during the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder course of his monthly Mann Ki Baat address Singh has launched a month-long drive, as to the nation. part of “Mission Fateh” to spread awareness The contest focuses on the transformative about COVID-19. impact of Yoga on the lives of individuals, and He urged the people of Punjab to follow social comes as one of the activities related to the distancing norms, wash hands properly and observation of the sixth International Day wear face masks to make the state win the of Yoga (IDY) coming up on 21st June 2020. battle against the virus. The contest has gone live on the social media Nitin Gadkari announces development of handles of the Ministry of AYUSH. new Greenfield expressway to Amritsar: Rajnath Singh to head committee for The centre has announced the development implementation of MSME loan scheme: of a new Greenfield connectivity to According to the MSME Minister, Nitin Amritsar City from Nakodar via Sultanpur Gadkari Prime Minister Narendra Modi has Lodhi, Goindwal Sahib, Khadoor Sahib as part appointed a committee headed by Rajnath of Delhi-Amritsar Expressway. The road Singh to resolve any problem in the from Amritsar to Gurdaspur to be made signal implementation of the Rs 3 lakh crore

free. First phase of project to have an Semiconductors (SPECS) and Modified investment of Rs 25,000 cr. Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC Prime Minister Modi launches 2.0) Scheme. CHAMPIONS portal to empower MSMEs: Power Minister R. K. Singh launches pan- Prime Minister launched the tech platform India Real-Time Market in electricity: “Champions” to help the smaller MSMEs by Shri R. K. Singh, the Minister of State (IC) solving their grievances, encouraging and Power and New & Renewable Energy & supporting them. ‘Champions’ stands for Minister of State Skill Development and Creation and Harmonious Application of Entrepreneurship launched pan-India Real- Modern Processes for Increasing the Output Time Market in electricity through video & National Strength. conference in New Delhi. Government approves to rename Kolkata Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju launches Port Trust as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Khelo India Community Coach Port Trust: Development programme: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the The 25-day programme was inaugurated by announcement of renaming Kolkata Port Trust Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched the as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust Khelo India Community Coach Development after Jan Sangh Founder while addressing the programme for 15,000 physical education 150th-anniversary programme of Kolkata teachers and coaches around the country. Port Trust. Government launches SWADES to India unveils Rs 50,000 crore schemes to conduct skill mapping of citizens attract electronics makers: returning under Vande Bharat Mission: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad The Union Government has launched a new unveiled the guidelines for electronics initiative SWADES- Skilled Workers Arrival manufacturing schemes with an aim to Database for Employment Support to conduct strengthen domestic manufacture. a skill mapping exercise of the returning The three Schemes namely, the Production- citizens under the Vande Bharat Mission. Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI), Scheme Telangana Chief Minister inaugurates for Promotion of Manufacturing of Kondapochamma Reservoir in Siddipet: Electronic Components and

Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao Centre announced the development of a new inaugurated a pump house in Siddipet Greenfield connectivity to Amritsar City district to lift Godavari water to a reservoir from Nakodar via Sultanpur Lodhi, Goindwal which is at a height of 618 meters from the Sahib, Khadoor Sahib as part of Delhi- source—Godavari river. This is to facilitate Amritsar Expressway. areas which did not have irrigation facilities. Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Centre launches TULIP portal to provide MSMEs Nitin Gadkari stated, the road from benefit to all stakeholders: Amritsar to Gurdaspur will also be fully Human Resources Development Minister developed and made completely signal free. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank & Urban Affairs Andhra Pradesh govt gives Rs 10,000 Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched a each to 2.62 lakh auto, cab drivers in joint initiative, TULIP- ‘The Urban Learning state: Internship Programme’ aimed at providing Andhra Pradesh government disbursed four internships to engineering students in the months in advance an annual financial country. It has been conceived under assistance of Rs 10,000 to each of the 2.62 Budget’s theme ‘Aspirational India’. lakh beneficiaries under a state welfare Chhattisgarh government launches scheme. ‘Spandan Campaign’ to check suicide and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy fratricide: announced the transfer of a total amount of Chhattisgarh Police have launched a special Rs 262.49 crores to 2,62,493 beneficiaries campaign titled “Spandan” to check mental under the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme stress and depression among their personnel during a digital conference with district by conducting interactive programmes and collectors and beneficiaries. arranging counseling sessions, music and Prime Minister Addresses the virtual yoga therapies. Global Vaccine Summit 2020: The motive of the campaign is preventing the India pledged $15 million to Gavi, the force from depression and stress pushing international vaccine alliance, with Prime them to take extreme steps. Minister Narendra Modi making the Nitin Gadkari announces development of announcement during the virtual Global new Greenfield expressway to Amritsar:

Vaccine Summit hosted by UK Prime shall continue to remain in force for a period Minister Boris Johnson. of 10 years. More than 50 countries are including Prakash Javadekar launches urban forest business leaders, UN agencies, civil society, scheme to develop 200 “Nagar Van” in 5 ministers and Heads of State and participated years: in the summit. Union Forest, Environment and Climate PM Modi’s first-ever virtual bilateral Change Minister Prakash Javadekar, summit with Australian PM Scott launched the “Urban Forest programme” Morrison: on the occasion of World Environment Day Prime Minister Modi and his Australian and reiterated that India is able to preserve counterpart PM Scott Morrison are taking its biodiversity. part in the first-ever virtual bilateral summit. Government announced implementation of The event signifies “The strengthening of the Nagar van scheme to develop 200 ties with Australia and its upward Urban Forests across the country in next 5 trajectory”. years with a renewed focus on people’s Through this summit, India and Australia participation & collaboration between Forest raised their relationship to a Department, Municipal bodies, NGOs, “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” Corporates. (CSP) and concluded nine pacts including Nitin Gadkari launches campaign on Mutual Logistics Support Agreement. ‘Prevention of Human and Animal Cabinet approves MoU between India Mortality on Highways’: and Bhutan on cooperation in the areas Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways of environment: and MSME, Nitin Gadkari launched the UNDP Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister and MoRTH national awareness campaign on Narendra Modi gave its approval for signing ‘Prevention of Human and Animal the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Mortality on Highways’ through a video with the Royal Government of Bhutan on conference. Cooperation in the areas of the environment. Uttar Pradesh introduces a MoU This Memorandum of Understanding shall Monitoring Mechanism for efficient enter into force on the date of signature and

implementation of investment WCD Ministry constitutes task force to proposals: examine issues related to lowering Uttar Pradesh has introduced a Maternal Mortality Rate: Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Task force is headed by Jaya Jaitly & it will Monitoring Mechanism in a move that aims submit its report by 31st July. The task Force at better implementation of investment will examine the issues related to Infant proposals through handholding interested Mortality Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate, Total investors and better tracking of the MoUs Fertility Rate, Sex Ratio at Birth, Child Sex signed. Ratio (CSR) . J&K Lieutenant Governor launches 'Mera CSIR and Atal Innovation Mission sign a Vetan' app: Letter of Intent to foster Innovation in Lieutenant Governor G.C. Murmu launched India: JK Employees Salary Tracker Mobile App- CSIR & Atal Innovation Mission sign a “Mera Vetan”. With this, employees Letter of Intent to foster Innovation. This will especially posted in remote & rural areas, who support world class start-ups through CSIR do not have access to the DDOs will easily Incubators under AIM initiatives and jointly access their salary & other details anytime. work on new models of innovation, Fit India and MHRD launch special films including setting up of CSIR Innovation Parks. to promote indigenous sports of India: PETA hails India’s first online waste Ministry of Human Resource exchange platform launched by Andhra Development (MHRD) and Sports Ministry Pradesh: have collaborated to produce a series of The Indian wing of the People for the special films promoting 10 indigenous sports Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has of India. praised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS The ‘Department of School Education and Jagan Mohan Reddy for launching an Literacy’ under MHRD has joined hands with online waste exchange platform which will sports ministry’s flagship programme ‘Fit help the authorities monitor the movement of India’ under the ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha hazardous waste real-time using the tools Bharat’ initiative. incorporated in the platform.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh by different authorities across the country, launches COVID BEEP, India’s first the National Tiger Conservation physiological parameters monitoring Authority (NTCA) . system for COVID-19 patients: Centre allocates highest ever funds of Rs. Union Minister for Development of North 1,01,500 crore under Mahatma Gandhi Eastern Region, Dr. Jitendra Singh said NREGS during 2020-2021: 'awareness' and not 'anxiety' is the key to A provision of One Lakh One Thousand fighting COVID-19. Launching COVID BEEP, Five Hundred (1,01,500) Crore rupees has India’s first indigenous, cost effective, been made under Mahatma Gandhi wireless physiological parameters National Rural Employment Guarantee monitoring system for COVID-19 patients, Dr Scheme in the current financial year 2020- Singh said COVID BEEP is to emerge as an 2021. antidote to the original COVID. It is the highest ever provision of funds under Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds the programme. A sum of 31 thousand 493 meeting with three service chiefs & CDS crores has already been released in 2020- General Bipin Rawat in New Delhi: 2021, which is more than 50 percent of the The meeting took place in New Delhi. It budget estimate of the current Financial Year. came days after the top India-China military Plantation drive named "Thank Mom" commanders meeting where they agreed to started in Madhya Pradesh: peacefully resolve situation in border areas in In Madhya Pradesh, a plantation drive accordance with various bilateral agreements. named "Thank Mom" has been started on the India loses 750 tigers in last eight years; premises of Social Justice and Disabled MP, Maharashtra report maximum Welfare Directorate on World Environment casualties: Day (June 5) . As many as 750 tigers have died in the As per the instruction from Commissioner country in the last eight years due to poaching Renu Tiwari, a variety of plants such as and other causes, with Madhya Pradesh Neem, Guava, Mango, Moonlight, Parijat and reporting the highest casualties at 173. Tulsi were planted with a plate in the name of There was also seizure of 101 big cats during each employee’s mother. the eight year period between 2012 and 2019

Himachal CM launches green belt Department of science and technology among development scheme for rural senior others. citizens: A dedicated portal, Varunamitra, was also Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched launched that aims to leverage technology ‘Panchvati Yojna’ under which parks and driven solutions to manage and mitigate the gardens would be developed for senior Urban Floods, the BBMP said in a statement citizens of rural areas in the state. Close to on Saturday. The Government of India has set 100 such parks would be developed in aside Rs.200 crore for disaster mitigation. different parts of the state during the current Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot financial year. launches Raj Kaushal Portal: ''Bande Utkala Janani'' gets state anthem Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the status in Odisha: Raj Kaushal portal and online shramik Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram employment exchange, developed by the Keshari Arukh said that the Cabinet headed department of Information and by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik accorded Technology (IT) and RSLDC, to ensure state anthem status to ''Bande Utkala giving jobs to the migrant workers who have Janani''. returned from other states and those who This patriotic poem was written by Kantakabi have been rendered jobless. Laxmikanta Mohapatra in 1912. It was the Madhya Pradesh tops wheat opening song of Utkal Sammilani during the procurement in country with 1.27 crore fight for the formation of a separate province. tones: Karnataka government launches Madhya Pradesh has reached the first “Meghasandesha” app for real time position in the country in the procurement of information on rains, flooding in wheat on support price, chief minister Bengaluru; ‘Varunamitra’ portal for real- Shivraj Singh Chouhan. time information on weather: Wheat procurement in Madhya Pradesh has The app “Meghasandesha” has been increased by 74 per cent as compared last developed by Karnataka state natural year. It is almost equal to the 33 per cent of disaster monitoring centre along with the total wheat procured in the country. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the

CBIC launches its flagship programme Uttar Pradesh govt amends 65 years old ‘Turant Customs’ at Bengaluru & cow slaughter act of state: Chennai: Uttar Pradesh government has amended the CBIC launched its flagship programme 65 years old cow slaughter act of state ‘Turant Customs’, at Bengaluru and and made stringent provisions in a new Chennai. Importers will now get their goods ordinance to stop cow slaughter in the state. cleared from Customs after a faceless The State Cabinet has approved Cow- assessment is done remotely by the Customs Slaughter Prevention (Amendment) officers located outside the port of import. Ordinance, 2020. World Bank lends Rs. 1,950 crore loans Gairsain declared summer capital of to West Bengal Govt for tackling COVID Uttarakhand: situation: Gairsain in Chamoli district was declared West Bengal has given Rs. 1,950 Cr loans as the summer capital of Uttarakhand. It is to the West Bengal for tackling COVID expected that the declaration of a summer situation & developmental work in the State. capital in the region will expedite Out of it, Rs. 1,100 Cr will be spent for development of the hilly areas. Dehradun is creating Industrial infrastructures, remaining the existing temporary capital of Rs. 850 crores are for the Social-Welfare Uttarakhand. schemes. Distinct colour band for number plate India's first virtual business-to-business sticker for BS-6 four-wheel vehicles: trade fair kicked off: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways India’s first virtual Business-To-Business has issued an order mandating a strip of trade fair concluded. It is organized by the green colour of 1 cm width on top of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts existing sticker carrying details of registration (EPCH) . for BS-VI vehicles of any fuel type that is for This platform hosted stalls of around 200 petrol or CNG which have a light blue Indian exporters four-day fair of fashion colour sticker and a diesel vehicle which is jewllery and accessories, to be accessed by of Orange colour. importers in key markets like the US and Government Hikes Import Duty On Europe. Bamboo From 10 To 25 Percent:

Union Government has hiked Customs duty state, including the famed Gir Forests, to on Bamboo imports by Agarbatti 674. manufacturers from 10 per cent to 25 per “Poonam Avlokan” is a routine monthly cent with immediate effect. The decision has exercise conducted for estimating the been taken to encourage use of domestic population of Asiatic lions. bamboo under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Migrants to receive covid care via scheme. Ayushman Bharat scheme: Madhya Pradesh gets Rs 1,280 crore Government is making a list of Migrant from Centre under Jal Jeevan Mission: Workers from states to offer health Centre has approved Rs 1,280 crore for the insurance benefits under AB-PMJAY. Migrant implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission workers who receive e-cards can avail (JJM) in Madhya Pradesh for 2020-21. The treatment from empanelled hospitals across state government had presented an annual the country. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan action plan on drinking water and sanitation Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provides health aimed at providing adequate drinking water cover of as much as Rs 5 lakh per family a to rural households in the state year. Uttarakhand opens its biggest Government allots Rs. 4000 crore to biodiversity park in Haldwani on World states under ‘Per Drop More Crop’: Environment Day: Department of Agriculture Cooperation Uttarakhand forest department opened the and Farmer’s Welfare has been first biodiversity park in Haldwani, which is implementing the “Per Drop More Crop” the states biggest, on World Environment component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Day. The park is spread across 18 acres and Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY-PDMC) . has around 500 species of plants. For the year 2020-21, the annual allotment of Gujarat reports 28.87% rise in Rs. 4000 crore has already been allocated population of Asiatic lions: and conveyed to the state governments by Gujarat has reported a significant rise in the the centre under the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ population of Asiatic lions in their habitat in component. the protected areas and the agro-pastoral landscape of the Saurashtra region in the

MoS Home G Kishan Reddy & 9 others campaign will run for one week in which named on new panel for freedom various clusters of the society will be tested. fighters: Uttar Pradesh Government successfully Ministry of Home Affairs has reconstituted a installs Tru NAAT machines in all committee to look into the welfare of freedom districts: fighters, with the minister of state for home Uttar Pradesh Government has successfully affairs G Kishan Reddy as the chairman and installed Tru NAAT machines in all 75 9 ‘eminent freedom fighters’ from across districts. It will help in getting early results the country as its members. of the tests & with the help of them ANC,Pre- Ministry of Tourism brings out the surgical & severe acute respiratory infections “Hidden Treasures of Chhattisgarh” SARI Cases may be tested for COVID at all through 30th webinar under Dekho Apna districts. Desh series: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister launches To make viewers virtually explore the "Jagananna Chedodu" scheme, unexplored destination, create awareness disburses Rs. 10,000 to beneficiaries: about the hidden destinations in Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Chhattisgarh, unique culture, tribal heritage Mohan Reddy, who has been implementing and festivals, the Ministry of Tourism’s welfare schemes for the betterment of the celebrated Dekho Apna Desh webinar series poor, has embarked on another scheme showcased the “HIDDEN TREASURES OF named Jagananna Chedodu scheme. CHHATTISGARH”. A scheme to provide financial assistance to Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series is an effort barbers, dhobis (washermen) and tailors to showcase India’s rich diversity under ‘Ek in the state Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme’. FM Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 40th GST Uttar Pradesh govt to launch state level council meeting: sample collection campaign: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Uttar Pradesh government is set to launch a chaired the 40th GST council meeting state level sample collection campaign to through video conferencing. Finance Minister find out the level of corona infection among said that no late fee will be charged from the different sections of society. The small taxpayers who have not filed their

GST returns between July 2017 and January on the Western Railway from Palanpur and 2020. Botad stations in Gujarat. Government approves revised estimate 3rd phase of SAUNI scheme to be of Rs 124 crore for ship repair facilities completed by 2021 to fill Saurashtra in Andaman & Nicobar: dams: Due to increased ship movements, the ship Gujarat Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani repair facilities at Port Blair are being announced that the phase 2 and phase 3 of augmented by the shipping ministry and the the Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran existing dock length will be extended by 90 Irrigation (SAUNI) scheme to fill meters under “Make In India” initiative. Saurashtra's 115 dams with Narmada Shipping ministry has approved a revised cost water will be completed by August 15 and estimate of Rs 123.95 crore. March 2021 respectively. Indian Navy inaugurates Deep Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launches Submergence Rescue Vehicle Complex at Sahakar Mitra Scheme on Internship Visakhapatnam: Programme by National Cooperative DSRV Complex is designed to accommodate Development Corporation: the newly inducted Submarine Rescue Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture System with state of the art facilities to store and Farmers Welfare Minister inaugurated a the DSRV assets in a Rescue-Ready state. Sahakar Mitra Scheme Internship The DSRV system can be rapidly mobilized by Program(SIP) an initiative of the NCDC. air or road to facilitate submarine rescue It will provide the young professionals an operations even at distant locations. opportunity of practical exposure and Railways Creates World Record; learning from the working of National Successfully Runs First Double Stack Cooperative Development Corporation Container Train In Electrified Territory: and cooperatives as a paid intern. Indian Railways created a world record by Odisha becomes 1st state in India to commissioning the first high rise Over Head receive ISO certification for tribal Equipment (OHE) and successfully running hostels: double stack containers in electrified territory Odisha became the first State in India to receive prestigious ISO (International

Organization for Standardization) 9001:2015 A week after being hit by Cyclone Nisarga, certification for its 44 tribal hostels of Maharashtra has renamed its Environment Keonjhar (32 hostels ) and Sambalpur (12 Ministry as Environment and Climate hostels) districts improving their overall Change Ministry. The department which is infrastructure and standards under Mission handle by Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Suvidya. Thackeray. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath 'STREE' Launched In Hyderabad To launches ‘Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana’ Support And Empower Women Against through video conference: Domestic Violence: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) Adityanath launched “Bal Shramik Vidya in association with Hyderabad City Police has Yojana” for 8-18 years old children, who are launched a programme “STREE” to support child labourers instead of being in school, women against domestic violence. The name through video conference. reflects the vision - "She Triumphs through Aim of the yojana– To educate orphans and Respect, Equality, and Empowerment" worker’s children or child labourers & (STREE) . ensure their healthy life. Government Launches “Arogyapath” NHAI becomes first construction sector Healthcare Supply Chain Portal: organization to go ‘Fully Digital’: India web-based solution for the National Highway Authority of India “Aarogyapath” healthcare supply chain (NHAI) has gone “Fully Digital”, with the portal, providing real-time availability of launch of cloud-based and Artificial critical healthcare supplies to manufacturers, Intelligence-powered Big Data Analytics suppliers and customers. platform – Data Lake and Project Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray Management Software in view of the deadly launches Mumbai's new flood warning coronavirus pandemic. system: Maharashtra renames its environment Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav ministry as ‘Environment & Climate Thackeray inaugurated the new Integrated Change Ministry’: Flood Warning System (IFLOWS)

developed for Mumbai, calling it "boon" for ‘Captain Arjun’ (Always be Responsible and the city. Just Use to be Nice) to intensify the screening Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and surveillance of passengers. and Family Welfare, Science and Technology, This Robot is launched to screen and Earth sciences, who was also present passengers while they board trains and during the ceremony, said the system will keep a watch on anti-social elements. Captain help the people of Mumbai in a "big way" as ARJUN does thermal screening and records it can predict floods. the temperature in a digital display panel. Punjab CM launches 'Ghar Ghar Nigrani' Dharmendra Pradhan Launches Indian app for COVID-19 house-to-house Gas Exchange - First Nationwide Online surveillance: Delivery Based Gas Trading Platform: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Singh launched a mobile-based app “Ghar Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Indian Ghar Nigrani” to undertake house-to-house Gas Exchange (IGX), first nationwide surveillance in the state to eliminate the online delivery-based gas trading COVID-19 pandemic. platform. Odisha’s unique festival Raja Parba Union Minister Kishan Reddy launches begins: GermiBAN in Hyderabad: Odisha’s 3-day unique festival Raja Parba Union Minister of State for Home affairs G. celebrating the onset of monsoon & the Kishan Reddy launched “GermiBAN” a earth’s womanhood begins. As a mark of device developed by Atal Incubation respect towards the earth during her Centre & Association of Lady menstruation days, all agricultural works, like Entrepreneurs of India- Women ploughing, sowing are suspended for the 3 Entrepreneurs HUB. The device can kill days. 99.9% of surface and air microbes. Central Railway launches robot 'Captain IBBI Reconstitutes Advisory Panel On Arjun' to screen passengers in Pune for Insolvency And Liquidation: COVID-19: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of Railway Protection Force of Central Railway India (IBBI) has reconstituted its advisory (CR), Pune division launched a Robotic committee on corporate insolvency resolution

and liquidation. The committee headed by Division in recent years. World Wildlife Kotak Mahindra Bank CEO Uday Kotak, Fund (WWF) for Nature India assisted the among other changes, has seen its expansion exercise and highlighted that there are to 14 members instead of 12. estimated 2,000 Indian gaurs across the Maharashtra government signs Rs division. 16,000-crore investment pacts with 12 Uttar Pradesh govt decides to adopt firms: scheme of Flatted Factory Model: Maharashtra government has announced Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to the signing of memoranda of understanding adopt the scheme of Flatted Factory Model (MoUs) with 12 domestic and foreign which will ensure easy availability of land for companies for Rs 16,000 crore investments industries, and in turn, generate employment in the oil, chemicals, auto, electric also. In a high level meeting, it was decided mobility and logistics sectors. by Uttar Pradesh State Industrial 500-Year-Old Odisha Temple Submerged Development Authority (UPSIDA) . Under Mahanadi River Reappears: Tata Power Set to Develop a 120 MW A 500-year-old ancient temple of Lord Solar Project in Gujarat: Vishnu that was submerged in Odisha’s Tata Power has announced that its wholly- Mahanadi river sometime in 19th century owned subsidiary, Tata Power Renewable due to change of course of the river, has Energy Limited (TPREL) has received a resurfaced after 15 years. Letter of Award (LoA) from Gujarat Urja An archaeological survey team from the Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) to develop a Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural 120 MW solar project in the state. Heritage that visited the village in Nayagarh West Bengal Government launches district, said the top of the Gopinath Dev “Karmo Bhumi” a job portal to help IT temple was visible due to the reduction in the professionals: water-level of the river. West Bengal government has launched a job First estimation exercise of Indian gaur portal “KarmoBhumi” for IT professionals in Nilgiris,Tamil Nadu: who have returned to the state amid the The first population estimation exercise of the COVID-19 pandemic. IT professionals can Indian gaur carried out in the Nilgiris Forest use the portal ‘Karmo Bhumi’ to connect with

companies based in the state. IT professionals state-owned facilities being upgraded. The now connect to IT companies of Bengal eight have been selected on the basis of through karmabhumi.nltr.org. facilities available in priority sports, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh infrastructure and past champions. inaugurates three projects undertaken Delhi to get world’s biggest Covid-19 by PHED facility, the size of 22 football fields: Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh Delhi is all set to get the world’s largest inaugurated three projects undertaken by Coronavirus care facility to help in the State Public Health Engineering treatment of Covid-19 disease patients. Department (PHED) through video Government will convert the Radha Soami conferencing from Imphal. Spiritua Centre into a COVID-19 care New Development Bank has sanctioned holding more than 200 halls with 10,000 Rs. 3000 crore to provide potable water to beds. every household of the State. UP becomes top state in country to Central Board of Indirect Taxes & provide employment to workers under Customs launches “e-Office” application: MGNREGA: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Uttar Pradesh has become the top state in Customs Chairman M. Ajit Kumar has the country to provide employment to the launched the e-Office application in over 500 workers under the Mahatma Gandhi CGST and Customs offices pan India. Over National Rural Employment Guarantee 50,000 officers and staff will use this Scheme (MGNREGA) . application, making CBIC one of the largest Uttar Pradesh provided employment to more Government departments to automate its than 57 lakh workers under MGNREGA. internal office procedures. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Sports Ministry to establish Khelo India Launches India's First Mobile Laboratory Centres of Excellence: For Coronavirus Testing: Minister of Sports Kiren Rijiju has now Union minister Harsh Vardhan launched a decided to set up Khelo India State Centers mobile lab for coronavirus testing which can of Excellence (KISCE) under Khelo India. be deployed in rural areas and help in First phase of the scheme will see eight promoting last-mile testing. The mobile lab,

also called I-Lab or Infectious Diseases by the scientists of the Indian Institute of Diagnostic Lab can run 50 RT-PCR tests in a Tropical Meteorology(IITM), Pune. day. It can also conduct up to 200 ELISA tests Climate Change over the Indian Region in a day. takes a close look at where we stand Karnataka to Observe 'Mask Day' on June regarding long-term changes in climate 18 to Spread Awareness About Covid-19: patterns, and their attendant risks. Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa Shri Pralhad Joshi launches R&D Portal announced that Karnataka will observe 18th for Atma-Nirbhar Bharat in Mining June 2020, as “Mask Day” to create Advancement: awareness to the general public on the Union Minister for Coal, Mines and importance of wearing a mask, using Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi sanitisers, washing hands and maintaining launched SATYABHAMA (Science and social distancing against COVID-19. Technology Yojana for Atma-Nirbhar Bharat in Telangana Government Issues Mining Advancement) Portal for Science and Ordinance to Defer Payment of Technology Programme Scheme of Ministry of Employees, Pensioners: Mines. Telangana has promulgated the Telangana Tamil Nadu government introduces new Disaster and Public Health Emergency portal for private jobs for aspirants: (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2020 which Tamil Nadu government has introduced a allowed it to defer salaries and pensions of its new portal for job seekers in the state. The employees, pensioner and institution, any state government’s Employment and Training person (ready contract or outsourcing department have started the new portal for employees) in the State. private jobs on link Climate Change Tracker: India's first tnprivatejobs.tn.gov.in. This portal will ever climate change assessment: focus on private jobs in the state to assist job For the first time, India has released its own seekers in the post-pandemic period. national report on the state of the climate India can become electrical vehicle crisis. Prepared under the aegis of the manufacturing hub in 5 years: Nitin ministry of earth sciences (MoES) and edited Gadkari:

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari The scheme will be known as Mukhyamantri stated that India will be a manufacturing SHRAMIK (Shahri Rozgar Manjuri For hub for electric vehicles within the next five Kamgar) Yojna, which is aimed at enhancing years, adding that several countries do not livelihood security for urban poor. want to deal with China after the COVID-19 Tripura Ektu Khelo Ektu Padho Scheme – crisis which can be an opportunity for India. Activity Based Learning Project: During a webinar titled ‘India’s Electric Tripura government has decided to start a Vehicle Roadmap Post COVID-19’. scheme called ‘Ektu Khelo, Ektu Padho’ NITI Aayog Forms Panel Led by Amitabh which means ‘Play little, Study little’, from Kant to Develop Job Platform For Migrant June 25. Labours: NGT imposes Rs 10 lakh fine on NITI (National Institution for Transforming Karnataka govt over pollution in India) Aayog, a policy think tank of the Kithiganahalli Lake in Bengaluru: Government of India has formed a high- National Green Tribunal has imposed an powered committee of top executives of interim penalty of Rs 10 lakh on the technology companies like Google, Karnataka government over pollution in the Microsoft and Tech Mahindra under the Kithiganahalli Lake, near Bommasandra leadership of its CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in Bengaluru, saying criminal offence is Amitabh Kant to develop a job platform that being committed by the authorities in not will help migrant labours & blue-collar stopping the discharge of pollutants into the workers. water bodies. Jharkhand to launch urban version of A bench headed by National Green Tribunal NREGS to curb unemployment: (NGT) Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Jharkhand is set to launch a 100-day Goel also slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the employment scheme for urban unskilled municipal council of Bommasandra for failure workers similar to the Mahatma Gandhi to discharge its duties. National Rural Employment Guarantee Rajnath Singh 3-day visit to Russia for Scheme (MGNREGS) amid the coronavirus attending 75th victory day parade: pandemic and increasing unemployment. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh left for a three-day visit to Russia during which he will

hold talks with top Russian military brass and Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, attend a grand military parade in Moscow to Jharkhand and Odisha. mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Indian Govt sanctions 190 crore amount victory over Germany in the Second World for augmentation of healthcare facilities War. in North Eastern States: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar The Union Minister of State (MoS) of inaugurates Virtual India Pavilion at Development of North Eastern Region Cannes Film Market 2020: (DoNER) Shri Jitendra Singh ji has Union Minister of Information and approved 190 crore amount to augment of Broadcasting, Shri Prakash Javadekar healthcare facilities in the eight North Eastern inaugurated the Virtual India Pavilion at (NE) States they are : Assam, Arunachal Cannes Film Market 2020. The Festival will Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim, be held from 22 - 26 June 2020. Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. The pavilion showcases Indian cinema across Union HRD Minister virtually launches linguistic, cultural and regional spheres YUKTI 2.0 platform for Higher Education and aims at forging an increasing number of Institutes: international partnership in distribution, Union Minister of Human Resource production, filming in India, script Development Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' development and technology and launched the initiative “YUKTI 2.0” to help promoting film salesand syndication. systematically assimilate technologies having PM Modi released Rs 50,000 crore for commercial potential and information related boostong employment and livelihood for to incubated startups in higher education migrant workers: institutions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 20 Rajasthan Government to Launch Indira Lakh crore amount for Aatma Nirbhar Rasoi Yojna to ensure 'No One Sleeps Bharat Abhiyan. Hungry': Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA), Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot that will cover 67 lakh migrant workers to announced that his government will soon get them employment, was begun in 6 states launch the “Indira Rasoi Yojna” for the such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP),

poor to ensure that "no one sleeps hungry" Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an in the state. International Airport. Under this scheme, pure and nutritious food Cabinet approves setting up of Rs 15,000 on concessional rates will be provided to the crore Animal Husbandry Infrastructure needy twice a day, the chief minister said. He Development Fund: said the state government will spend Rs 100 The Union Cabinet decided to set up Animal crore every year on the Indira Rasoi Yojna Husbandry Infrastructure Development (Indira Kitchen Scheme) . Fund. The government will provide 4% Food Processing Industries Minister interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries launches Food Processing Edition of from the Aspirational Districts and 3% for Exclusive Investment Forum: beneficiaries from other Districts. Union FPI Minister Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Government provides 2% interest Badal launched the Food Processing Edition subsidy to 'Shishu' borrowers under of the Exclusive Investment Forum by Invest Mudra Yojana: India, the National Investment Promotion & The government decided to provide 2 Facilitation Agency of the Government of percent interest subvention to borrowers India. under the 'Shishu' category of the flagship The forum witnessed participation from the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) senior-most policymakers from Union for a period of 12 months. Government and 6 State Governments – Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates India's Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya one of India's largest & first Virtual Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana and Uttar Healthcare & Hygiene EXPO 2020: Pradesh. 180 companies from 18 countries Union State Minister for Chemicals and also participated in the forum. Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated Union Cabinet approves proposal to one of India's largest and first Virtual grant international airport status to UP's Healthcare and Hygiene EXPO 2020. The Kushinagar Airport: Expo has been organised by Federation of Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Indian Chambers of Commerce and Narendra Modi approved declaration of Industry (FICCI) .

MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari launches Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Credit Guarantee Scheme for Sub- starts Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Scheme for ordinate Debt: women empowerment: MSME, Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the Madhya Pradesh Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Credit Guarantee Scheme for Sub-ordinate Vitaran Company Limited (MPMKVVCL) Debt (CGSSD) . Under the scheme, introduced the Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Promoters of the MSMEs will be given credit Scheme for women empowerment. Under equal to 15 percent of their stake or 75 lakh this scheme, women Self-Help Groups at rupees whichever is lower. Gram Panchayat level will act as Nishtha Smriti Irani launches FICCI-FLO Vidyut Mitra. initiative ‘Empowering the Greater 50%’: Ms Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister of Textiles, Govt of India launched a special campaign ‘Empowering the Greater 50%’, a FICCI and FLO initiative spearheaded by Dr Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI. Haryana and Reliance Jio TV enter agreement to educate 52 lakh students: Haryana government and Reliance Jio TV have entered an agreement that is expected to benefit around 52 lakh school children in rural areas. This new agreement is done under the Chief Minister’s Distance Education Programme in order to expand education in rural areas without jeopardizing social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Davos meeting in January 2021 with a theme of 'The Great Reset'. India becomes world’s second-largest On Menstrual Hygiene Day Former Miss manufacturer of PPE body coveralls in World Manushi Chhillar joins UNICEF’s “Red Dot Challenge”: two months: On Menstrual Hygiene Day, 28th May 2020, India has become the world’s second largest 23-year-old, former Miss World Manushi manufacturer of personal protective Chhillar collaborated in the global initiative of equipment (PPE) body coveralls within a the United Nations Children’s Fund short time span of two months. China is the world’s leading producer of PPE (UNICEF), the “Red Dot Challenge” to body coveralls, crucial to safeguard against create awareness and to educate the girls the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. about menstrual hygiene and construction of Meeting of the Heads of Tax Authorities sanitation facilities and access to hygiene products. of the BRICS countries was held on 29 G20 pledge over $21 billion to fight May: COVID-19: Meeting of the Heads of Tax Authorities of Member countries of the Group of 20 pledged the BRICS countries was held on 29 May more than USD 21 billion to fight the 2020. The BRICS Countries that participated COVID-19 pandemic. G20 countries injected in the meeting are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. more than USD 5 trillion into the global The meeting was hosted by the Federal Tax economy in late March to fight the virus and Service of Russia, which currently holds the its economic impacts. Saudi Arabia assumed BRICS Presidency. Dr. Ajay Bhushan the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2019. Adani Green Energy Ltd bags world’s Pandey, Finance Secretary, Government of largest solar contract worth $6 billion: India, represented India at the meeting. Adani Green Energy Ltd has bagged the World Economic Forum Davos summit to world's largest solar bid entailing building a focus on 'The Great Reset' in 2021: Photovoltaic (PV) power plant of 8,000 World Economic Forum (WEF) will adopt a new twin-summit format for its next annual MW and setting up a domestic solar panel manufacturing capacity of 2,000 MW,

envisaging a total investment of roughly $6 2019-20. Coal India Limited has set a billion. production target of 1-billion tons by 2024. India and Denmark signed an MoU for Apple becomes the first US company to developing cooperation in the power hit $1.5 trillion market cap: sector: Apple has become the first US Company to The MoU signed between the Ministry of cross $1.5 trillion-mark in market cap as its Power and the Ministry for Energy, Utilities valuation hit $1.53 trillion at over $352 per and Climate, Government of Denmark, is to share. develop a strong, deep and long-term co- While Microsoft briefly hit $1.5 trillion m- operation between two countries in the power cap, its valuation declined to $1.49 trillion. sector on the basis of equality, reciprocity and India-ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2020: mutual benefit. 3rd India-ASEAN youth dialogue that was World leaders won't travel to New York held online from June 8 to 10, India and the for annual UN General Assembly session Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year due to COVID-19: (ASEAN) pledged to enhance cooperation in For the first time in 75 years, world leaders ways to effectively and constructively will not travel to New York for the annual UN channelizing youthful energy. General Assembly session in September this Ministry of External Affairs said that the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the current ASEAN-India Dialogue was taking President of the UN General Assembly, forward the legacy of the previous ASEAN- Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has announced. India Youth summits held in 2017 and 2019. India Gears Up To Launch First Ever Coal Bangladesh launches plasma network for Trading Exchange: COVID 19 treatment: India is planning to launch its first coal Government of Bangladesh has launched an trading platform on the lines of commodity online network to facilitate Plasma or energy exchanges. According to the Exchange between recovered patients of proposal, entire coal produced in the country COVID-19 and those undergoing treatment would be traded on the Coal Exchange. for Corona infection in the country. The country's coal import has increased Named ‘Shohojodha’, the initiative has been marginally by 3.2 per cent to 242.97 MT in launched by the ICT division of the

government of Bangladesh in collaboration Council for a two-year term after winning with Directorate General of Health 184 votes in the 193-member General Services (DGHS) . Assembly. Along with India, Ireland, Exim Bank extends $216 million credit Mexico, and Norway also won the UN line to Malawi govt: Security Council elections. India will be Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) United Nations Security Council President for has extended a line of credit (LOC) worth August, 2021 $215.68 million to the Malawi government AIIB approves USD 750 million loan to for drinking water supply schemes and other India for Covid-19 response: development projects includes supply of Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure irrigation network, tobacco threshing plant, Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a cotton processing facilities and construction of USD 750 million (around Rs 5,714 crore) a new water supply system from Likhubula loan to India to help the government river in Mulanje to Blantyre. strengthen its battle against the adverse Facebook, Google and Microsoft Working impact of Covid-19 on poor and vulnerable Together to Tackle Child Abuse Content households. Online: World Bank approves dollar 1.05 billion Facebook joined Google, Microsoft and 15 to Bangladesh for jobs and economic other tech companies to announce the recovery: formation of Project Protect to combat child World Bank has approved dollar 1.05 sexual abuse on its platforms. billion for three projects in Bangladesh to Project Protect is a renewed commitment create quality jobs and accelerate economic and investment from the Technology Coalition recovery in the wake of the Corona pandemic. expanding its scope and impact to protect The first project worth a dollar 500 million kids online and guide its work for the next 15 called Private Investment and Digital years. Entrepreneurship (PRIDE) . India Elected for 8th Term as Non- France commits 200 Million Euros to Permanent UNSC Member: Support India’s COVID Response: India formally elected as Non-Permanent France and India signed an agreement with Member of the powerful UN Security Paris committing 200 million euros to

support Delhi's Covid response. It was Palestine Refugees in the Near East signed by Dr C.S. Mohapatra, Additional (UNRWA) over the coming two years. Minister of State for External Affairs V Secretary - DEA, and Bruno Bosle, Director - Muraleedharan said that capacity AFD (French Development Agency) in India. enhancement through training and building durable institutions is a major plank of our developmental assistance to Palestine while One billion children experience violence addressing an extraordinary virtual every year as countries fail to protect ministerial pledging conference for UNRWA. them: UN report President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic declares landslide win in controversial Half of the world's children one billion every parliamentary vote: year are affected by physical, sexual or Serbia's president declared a landslide psychological violence, suffering injuries victory for his right-wing party, in a and death because countries have failed to controversial parliamentary election held amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic follow established strategies to protect them, and a boycott by much of the opposition. His the first report of its kind from the United party won 190 seats in the total of 250. Nations has said, with experts noting that China Joins UN Arms Trade Treaty To Enhance ‘Peace And Stability’: the corona virus-related lockdowns have left China has decided to join a global pact on far too many youngsters stuck with their regulations of arms sales showing its abusers. willingness to address the poorly regulated international arms trade after the United The report was launched by the World States pulled out last year. Health Organization, the UNICEF, the 36th ASEAN Summit to be held in UNESCO, the Special Representative of the Vietnam via video conference: UN Secretary-General on Violence against Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that Children and the End Violence Partnership the 36th ASEAN (Association of Southeast charted progress in 155 countries against Asian Nations (ASEAN) ) Summit will be the "INSPIRE" framework, a set of seven the first ever to take place via teleconference, strategies for preventing and responding to with Vietnam to host the remote gathering, violence against children. set to focus on handling regional public health India pledges USD 10million to UN for issues and funding to cope with COVID-19. Palestine refugees amid COVID-19 pandemic: India has announced to contribute 10 million US dollar to the United Nation's (UN) Relief and Works Agency for

BANKING AND ECONOMY: age millennials, who prefer online LIC launches revamped PMVVY for senior communication rather than face-to-face citizens: meetings with tax experts. Extension of the Pradhan Mantri Vaya NPCI launches AI virtual assistant PAi to create product awareness: Vandana Yojana up to 31 st March 2023 National Payments Corporation of India by the government, LIC has launched a (NPCI), as an initiative to improve digital modified non-linked, non-participating, financial inclusion, launched an Artificial pension plan. The policy term is 10 years and Intelligence (AI) based chatbot, PAi, to the assured rate of interest is 7.4%. BSE launches eKYC services on StAR MF create awareness around its products like platform: FASTag, RuPay, UPI, AePS on a real-time BSE StAR Mutual Fund has launched BSE basis. PAi is developed by Bengaluru based eKYC services based on Aadhaar and Video startup CoRover Pvt Ltd. Fitch forecasts India’s GDP growth rate KYC. to contract 5% in FY21: Open for onboarding mutual fund investors Amid Novel Coronavirus pandemic, rating initially, it will be opened to stock brokers agency Fitch Ratings has released its its and other approved intermediaries. It will latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO) . In soon issue APIs for stock brokers and other its Global Economic Outlook, the rating intermediaries to connect their IT systems to BSE’s eKYC system. agency has forecasted the GDP growth rate of Aspiring Chartered Accountants Launch the world and individual countries. India’s First Chat-Based ‘JJ Tax App’: FDI in India jumps 13% to record $ Aspiring chartered accountants Mehak Malik 49.98 bn in 2019-20: Foreign direct investment in India grew by and Leesha Arya teamed up to launch JJ 13% to a record of $ 49.97 billion in the Tax App – a chat-based tax app. This app 2019-20 FY. Foreign direct investment in offers a wide range of solutions in taxation India grew by 13% to a record of $ 49.97 and allied services to customers, offering real- billion in the 2019-20 financial year. time solutions by tax experts. With Motto of ‘Done Fast Done Right’, this Singapore emerged as the largest source of team is all set to simplify taxation for new- FDI.

RBI stops selling 7.75% govt savings cooperative banks, regional rural banks and bonds: micro-finance institutions (MFIs) . Reserve Bank India stopped selling the IMF approved 732 million emergency 7.75% (Taxable) government savings bond, assistance to Bangladesh for COVID-19: the most sought-after investment by retail IMF Executive Board approved an emergency investors in recent times. With this, options financial assistance worth dollar 732 million have come down for retail investors, looking for Bangladesh to address the COVID-19 for high guaranteed-return products. pandemic in the country and to meet its These bonds had a seven-year lock-in urgent Balance of payment and fiscal needs period. caused due to reduced exports and RBI slaps penalty on Bank Of India, remittances. Karnataka Bank & Saraswat Bank: Earlier ADB provided 500 million assistance RBI imposed the penalty of Rs. 5 cr on Bank to Bangladesh. of India, Rs. 30 lakh on Saraswat Co- Yes Bank partners with Chalo launch operative Bank Ltd and Rs. 1.20 cr on contactless card for bus passengers: Karnataka Bank. The RBI has imposed the Yes Bank has partnered with Chalo to launch penalty on the ground of non-compliance with of a co-branded contactless travel card in certain provisions of the directions issued by Mangalore and Udupi, which would enable RBI. users to load money on the card to make ‘tap to pay’ payments across buses. NABARD sanctions Rs 1,050 crore credit BSE Ebix Insurance Broking launches support to West Bengal: health insurance: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural BSE Ebix Insurance Broking, a joint venture Development (NABARD) has sanctioned credit of BSE and Ebix Fincorp Exchange, of Rs 1,050 crore in the current fiscal so far announced the beta launch of health to West Bengal for benefit of farmers and poor insurance on its platform by enrolling people in rural areas. Religare Health Insurance. The credit support under Special Liquidity IndusInd Bank starts mobile-based Facility (SLF) will be extended to state current account opening facility:

The IndusInd Bank has launched a mobile tier three to six centres and northeastern application based facility where customer can states. open the current bank account in a SEBI rearranges its Commodity paperless manner in just a few hours. Now derivatives advisory committee: IndusInd is the first bank in India to introduce Securities and Exchange Board of India this assisted mobile application based facility. (SEBI) rearranged the Commodity derivatives Mastercard, Axis Bank and Worldline advisory committee and appointed Ashok launch Soft POS to addresses the needs Dalwani, Retired IAS officer as the chairman of SMEs in COVID-19: and Aliasgar S Mithwani, Chief General Mastercard, Axis Bank and Worldline Manager of SEBI as Secretary of the 17- launched Soft POS to become the first member committee. financial payments service in India to SBI creates separate vertical to drive transform everyday smartphones into MSME, Agri finance: merchant Point of Sale terminals. In a major restructuring exercise, State The merchant community can start using Soft Bank of India has created a separate POS almost instantly as the online Financial Inclusion and Micro Market registration process with the acquiring bank (FI&MM) vertical with a focus on rural and takes less than 30 minutes. semi urban areas to improve customer RBI Sets up Payments Infrastructure experience. Development Fund to Boost Digitisation: Under this newly launched vertical, the bank Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said they are will offer loans mainly for agriculture as well setting up a Payment Infrastructure as allied activities, and micro and small Development Fund (PIDF) of Rs 500 crore. enterprises. It will make an initial contribution of Rs 250 NABARD provides Rs 270 crore to Assam crore covering half the fund. The remaining Gramin Vikash Bank: will come from the card-issuing banks and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural card networks operating in the country. Development (NABARD) has made available This fund has been created to encourage a Special Liquidity Facility (SLF) of Rs 270 acquirers to deploy Point Of Sale (PoS) crore to Assam Gramin Vikash Bank for infrastructure, both physical and digital, in

supporting the agricultural activities of the State Bank of India has created a separate farmers. Financial Inclusion and Micro Market NABARD has provided Rs 25,000 crore (FI&MM) vertical within the bank with an nationwide for providing liquidity support to exclusive focus to provide financial services to Cooperative Banks, Regional Rural Banks people engaged in agriculture and allied and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) activities and Micro, Small and Medium during 2020-21. Enterprises (MSMEs) . India’s GDP may contract by 1.5% in The new wing will be headed by Deputy FY21;RBI survey: Managing Director (DMD) of the bank A survey released by the Reserve Bank has Sanjeev Nautiyal at the national level. showed that Indian economy may contract by World Bank forecasts world economy to 1.5 percent in FY21 though the next fiscal is contract 5.2% in 2020: expected to be much better. Global economy has plunged into a severe "Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is contraction, will shrink by 5.2 per cent this likely to contract by 1.5 per cent in 2020-21 year due to the massive shock of the but is expected to revert to growth terrain coronavirus pandemic and the shutdown next year, when it is likely to grow by 7.2 per measures to contain it said by World Bank cent," said the Survey of Professional President David Malpass. Forecasters (SPF) sponsored by the RBI. Indian GDP to contract 5% in FY21, HDFC Bank launches Summer Treats to stimulus not enough; S&P Ratings: meet post lockdown needs: S&P Global Ratings said Indian economy HDFC Bank has launched ‘Summer Treats’, will shrink 5 per cent in the current fiscal, which has exciting offers to meet the saying the fiscal stimulus worth 1.2 per cent changing needs of merchants as well as of GDP will not be enough to provide salaried and self-employed customers. significant growth support. Last October, HDFC Bank launched India’s S&P keeps India's rating unchanged at 'BBB- biggest financial services bonanza “Festive ' keeps outlook stable. S&P said India Growth Treats” bringing special offers on all banking. will rebound to 8.5 per cent in 2021-22. It SBI launches separate FI&MM vertical projected growth to be 6.5 per cent in 2022- for agriculture and small businesses: 23.

PhonePe launches Domestic Trip providing a fully-digital and seamless buying Insurance with ICICI Lombard as India process. starts opening-up: Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India PhonePe, India’s leading digital payments reduce MCLR across all tenors: platform announced the launch of a State-run lenders Bank of Baroda (BoB) and comprehensive, industry-first domestic multi- Union Bank of India (UBI) on Wednesday trip insurance cover in a strategic partnership announced cut in their Marginal Cost Of with ICICI Lombard, India’s largest non-life Funds-Based Lending Rates (MCLR) across insurance company. all tenors. The cost of the insurance is Rs 499/year. It BoB has revised its one-year MCLR to 7.65% provides 365-day stress-free travel from 7.80%. Union Bank of India has experience, protection & covers all modes reduced its one-year MCLR to 7.60 per cent (road, rail and air within the country) of from 7.70 per cent. transport. Indian economy to grow at 9.5% in next RBI proposes new norms for loan sales fiscal: Fitch Ratings: and securitizations: India's economy is forecast to bounce back RBI has issued new draft frameworks for the with a sharp growth rate of 9.5 per cent next sale of loan exposures and the year provided it avoids further deterioration securitization of standard assets by banks and in financial sector health, Fitch Ratings NBFIs. The definition of securitization has Fitch Ratings forecast a 5 per cent been modified to allow single asset contraction in the GDP in the ongoing financial securitisations against the previous year. multiple assets. CBIC launches Turant Customs for Hero MotoCorp launches integrated faceless clearance of imported goods: online sales platform eSHOP: Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC) The country's largest two-wheeler maker has launched its flagship programme, Turant Hero MotoCorp launched an integrated Customs, at Bengaluru and Chennai, paving online sales platform “eSHOP”. Hero the way for technology-supported faster MotorCorp eShop has been created to Customs clearance of imported goods. enhance the customer’s overall experience by

RBI bars People’s Co-operative Bank savings account opening with just PAN and from granting fresh loans, accepting Aadhaar number. deposits for six months: RBI sets up panel to review ownership, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred corporate structure of Private sector Kanpur-based People’s Co-operative banks: Bank from granting fresh loans and accepting Reserve Bank of India has constituted a deposits for six months, due to its weak five-member Internal Working Group to financial position. review the guidelines related to ownership, Also no withdrawal of amount across all governance and corporate structure of savings bank or current accounts or any other Private Sector Banks. account of a depositor will be allowed from the In a press release, RBI informed that RBI co-operative bank. Central Board Director P K Mohanty will head RBI proposes upper age limit of 70 yrs the committee, which will submit its report by for bank CEOs and whole-time directors: 30th September, 2020. RBI has proposed an upper age limit of 70 Global goods trade to fall 27% in Q2 after years for CEOs and whole-time directors 5% decline in first quarter: UNCTAD: of banks and a maximum term of 10 years UNTAD said that the value of international for those belonging to the promoter group, as trade in goods declined around 5% in the Q1 part of the exercise to improve governance in of 2020 & is expected to decline further by the banking sector. 27% in the ongoing quarter with trade in SBI relaunches online ‘Insta Saving Bank many developing countries projected to Account’ through YONO: nosedive due to the effects of the pandemic. State Bank of India has re-launched “SBI ICICI Bank launches ‘Insta Flexicash’ Insta Saving Bank Account” an Aadhaar- paperless overdraft facility for salary based instant digital savings account for accounts: customers who would like to open an account Private lender ICICI Bank has unveiled a online through bank’s integrated banking and paperless facility that will enable its salary lifestyle platform – YONO. which will offer a account customers to get approvals for complete paperless and instant digital Overdraft (OD) instantaneously.

Titled as ‘Insta Flexicash’, the end-to-end other organizations to make cashless fully digital service can be used on the payments and provide a financial security lender’s internet banking platform. The blanket to their employees. facility can get the approval immediately The account has No Minimum balance while customers can start using the okayed condition. It offers no charges on cash limit within 48 hours. withdrawals of upto Rs 50,000 and deposits HDFC Ergo launches country’s first drone of upto Rs 20,000 in one month. cover: EPFO launches multi location claims The Third Largest Private Sector general settlement facility: insurer HDFC Ergo tied up with tech firm Retirement fund body Employees Provident Tropogo to offer commercial drone owners Fund Organization (EPFO) on Monday said and operators third-party liability cover for it has launched a multi-location claim property damages and physical injuries settlement facility to expedite member claims from the flying machines. All types of online claims, i.e., provident PNB extends credit line of Rs 750 cr for fund, pension, partial withdrawal, claims Gorakhpur Link Expressway: and transfer claims can be processed under Punjab National Bank (PNB) has extended this novel initiative. a credit line of Rs 750 crore for the India’s foreign exchange reserves cross Gorakhpur Link Expressway, estimated to $500 bn for the first time: cost Rs 5,876 crore. The 91-km expressway The country’s foreign exchange reserves will connect Gorakhpur district, the pocket crossed the $500 billion mark for the first borough of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath time as the central bank absorbed inflows at with another expressway project, the 340-km a time. India’s forex reserves comprise Purvanchal Expressway. Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs), gold Airtel Payments Bank launches Suraksha reserves, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Salary account for MSMEs: and India’s reserve position with the Airtel Payments Bank launched a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) . salary account for Micro, Small And SEBI panel suggests measures to Medium Enterprises named Suraksha strengthen enforcement, recovery Salary account, it will enable MSMEs and mechanism:

SEBI panel suggested measures to lakh. The interest rate starts from 7.98% strengthen markets watchdog's onwards. enforcement mechanism and improve the Karnataka Bank launches COVID-19 system of recovery of siphoned off money. health insurance in partnership with The committee headed by former Supreme Universal Sompo: Court Judge Anil Dave has proposed method Karnataka Bank has launched a health of quantification of profit made by the insurance policy for COVID-19 in a tie-up with defaulter and loss caused to investors. Universal Sompo General Insurance ADB forecasts Indian economy to Company. contract 4% in FY21: The health cover can be availed at a nominal Asian Development Bank has projected premium (current price without taking Indian economy to contract by 4% in Fiscal inflation or other factors into account) of Rs Year 2021. Indian economy has been 399, inclusive of all taxes. projected to contract, as businesses came to Bank of Baroda to Fully digitize lending a standstill for more than two months due to operations: the nationwide lockdown implemented to India’s third largest lender Bank of Baroda contain the COVID-19. is set to completely digitize it’s lending The Asian Development Bank expects India’s operations including home, agriculture, economy to recover in Fiscal Year 2022 with MSME, personal and auto loans. growth rate of 5%, as economic activity will The bank which is looking to completely do get to its normal state gradually. away with paper-based lending has reached ICICI Home Finance launches affordable out to the big four and some white shoe housing loan scheme “SARAL”: consultants like McKinsey and Boston ICICI Home Finance has launched a special Consulting Group to help set up a “digital Affordable Housing Loan scheme, with lending department”. special rates for women, lower and middle- RBI Proposes New Norms For Housing income groups. Called SARAL, it aims to Finance Companies: fund homes in urban and rural areas. SARAL RBI proposed to double the minimum Net offers affordable housing loans up to Rs.35 Owned Fund (NOF) requirement for housing finance companies to Rs 20 crore.

Classifying HFCs as systemically important Yes Bank partners Affordplan to launch (asset size of Rs 500 crore and above) and co-branded cashless healthcare card: non-systemically important (asset size Yes Bank has partnered with fintech less than Rs 500 crore) . startup Afford plan to launch a co-branded Housing loans must account for at least 50% health card “Swasth Card” to address of HFCs’ assets of which at least 75% should healthcare needs. The co-branded healthcare be towards individual housing loans. HFCs card will enable families plan and manage which do not fulfill this criterion will be treated their finances for their healthcare needs. as NBFC – Investment and Credit Karnataka Bank launches new loan Companies (NBFC-ICCs) product ‘KBL Micro Mitra’ for small firms: RBI increases PMC account withdrawal Private sector lender Karnataka Bank limit to Rs 1 lakh and extends launched “KBL Micro Mitra” to offer financial restrictions by 6 months: assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh to micro Reserve Bank of India increased the manufacturing & service enterprises withdrawal limit for depositors at the crisis-hit either to meet their working capital needs for Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank investment purposes. (PMC Bank) to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000. UCO Bank teams up with 4 insurers to RBI noted that with the relaxation in sell their products: withdrawal limit, 84 per cent of the State-run UCO Bank tied up with four depositors of the bank will be able to withdraw insurers to offer various insurance products to their entire account balance. its customers through its network of branches EXIM Bank provides USD 20 mn credit across the country. line to Nicaragua for rebuilding hospital: The lender teamed up with SBI Life Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) Insurance Company, the Oriental will provide a line of credit of USD 20.10 Insurance Company and Religare Health million (about Rs 153.27 crore) for Insurance Company, Star Health and reconstruction of hospital building in Allied Insurance Company for selling their Nicaragua. Exim Bank has extended 4 (four) products. Lines of Credit to Nicaragua, on behalf of Moody's sees India's GDP contracting the Indian government. 3.1% in 2020:

Ratings agency Moody's said that it sees ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS: India's GDP contracting to 3.1 percent in Airtel Payments Bank & Mastercard 2020 and growing 6.9 percent in 2021. Team Up To Provide Financial Solutions Moody expects G20 economies to contract by For Farmers, SMEs: 4.6 percent in 2020, and grow by 5.2 percent Airtel Payments Bank (APBL) has in 2021. partnered with Mastercard to develop RBI extends Rs 50,000-crore special customized products catering to customers liquidity facility to Yes Bank for 3 more months: across the under banked spectrum including Private sector lender Yes Bank still facing farmers, small and medium enterprises and capital woes, the Reserve Bank of India retail customers. (RBI) has agreed to extend Rs 50,000-crore Maruti Suzuki partners ICICI Bank to Special Liquidity Facility for the lender for another three months. offer customized EMI financing schemes SEBI relaxes rules for listed companies to customers: with stressed assets: Maruti Suzuki India joined hands with SEBI decided to relax pricing framework under the preferential route and exempted ICICI Bank to offer retail financing schemes allotters of preferential issues from open to its customers. Accordingly, the bank is offer obligations in such cases with offering Flexi EMI scheme which enables immediate effect. It is meant to ease fundraising for companies with stressed customers to pay low starts from Rs. 899 on assets. loan of Rs 1 lakh for first 3 months. India's GDP to contract by 5.3% due to CPSU REC Ties Up with TajSATS to Feed COVID-19 'disorder': India Ratings: Medical Staff Serving amid Covid-19: India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will Navratna Non-Banking Finance Company contract by 5.3 per cent year-on-year in the (NBFC) REC Ltd has joined hands with current financial year (FY 20-21), marking TajSATS (a joint venture of IHCL and SATS the lowest growth rate in the country's history Ltd) to feed the frontline healthcare workers, and sixth instance of economic contraction, through collaborative efforts, in key India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) . government hospitals as well as poor daily For FY21-22, it is expected that GDP growth wage labourers on pan India. would bounce back in the range of 5-6%. REC Ltd, formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd, is mainly focusing on the

power sector financing and development and other railway electrical equipment utilized across the country. for Electric Multiple Units for Indian Metro Flipkart partners with Mango Board to Rail Projects, Indian Railway Projects. help farmers sell online: Apple buys machine learning specialist Flipkart and Karnataka State Mango Inductiv to bolster Siri, AI projects: Department and Marketing Corporation Adding to a mounting number of AI-related signed a memorandum of understanding, acquisitions, Apple recently purchased enabling mango farmers to sell their fresh Ontario-based Inductiv to work on Siri and produce online through the Flipkart platform. machine learning initiatives. Inductiv The farmers would be provided market access developed a system that relies on AI to to consumers. automatically identify and correct errors in NCLT approves IL&FS stake sale in GIFT data. City to Gujarat government: Vakrangee ties up with LIC for micro The Principal Bench of National Company insurance products: Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the stake Vakrangee Ltd has tied up with Life sale of IL&FS in Gujarat International Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to Finance Tec-City Company Limited distribute micro insurance products in (GIFTCL) to the Government of Gujarat. unserved and underserved areas through its The crisis-ridden IL&FS holds 50 per cent centres across the country. stake in GIFTCL. Notwithstanding the liability ITC ties up with Amway to expand of GIFTCL, the Gujarat Government has distribution network of its immunity- agreed to pay positive equity value of 100 per boosting products: cent of the IL&FS stake in GIFTCL, by which, Leading FMCG player ITC has tied up with the positive equity value of over Rs 32.70 Amway India with a focus on products in the crore will come to IL&FS. health and nutrition space. It has been Board of BEML approves signing of MoU kicked-off with the launch of ‘B Natural+’ with MELCO for setting up a JV: fruit beverage range, developed by ITC, and Board of BEML has approved the MoU with positioned in the immunity-boosting space. MELCO for a Joint Venture with BEML, for manufacture of certain propulsion systems

Cisco acquires ThousandEyes for around Consumer Electronics Company OPPO and T- $1 billion to make deeper push into Hub, a startup incubator headquartered in software: Hyderabad, announced a tie-up to support Cisco continued its software acquisition India’s startup ecosystem. spree, announcing the purchase of The collaboration aims to help startups scale ThousandEyes, founded by Mohit Lad, up in areas of Artificial Intelligence, 5G, whose technology helps companies monitor battery, camera and image processing, their network for outages. Cisco has been gaming and system performance. focused on expanding its portfolio of cloud- BEML-MELCO sign MoU for based software. manufacturing of Railway propulsion: Infosys partners up with Avaloq for The leading PSU of Government of India, digital wealth management services: BEML Limited signed a Memorandum of Infosys announced a strategic partnership Understanding (MoU) with Mitshubishi with Zurich-based software company Avaloq Electric Co. (MELCO) to study and decide on to provide end-to-end (e2e) wealth the possibility of setting up a Joint Venture management capabilities through digital (JV) Company for manufacturing of certain platforms. propulsion systems and other railways The partnership is meant to offer e2e electrical equipment in India. products and services as Software-as-a- IRCON Partners With NIIFL, Ayana to Service (SaaS), private cloud or public cloud Explore Opportunities in Solar Energy: across the globe to its clients. Ircon International Limited, formerly Indian Yes Bank Acquires 24% Stake In Dish TV Railway Construction Limited, an After Invoking Pledged Shares: engineering and construction organisation Yes Bank, after the invocation of pledged has announced that it has signed a pact with shares, has acquired 44,53,48,990 equity the National Investment and shares of Dish TV India constituting Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) and approximately 24.19% of the post-issue Ayana Renewable Power for exploring paid-up share capital as at March 31, 2020. opportunities in the solar energy segment. OPPO partners T-Hub to support India’s DBS Bank partners with TCIL for real startup ecosystem: time payments to truck drivers:

DBS commitment to support lives and In April, Facebook had announced an livelihoods, the bank has partnered with TCIL investment of $ 5.7 billion (Rs 43,574 crore) for empowering truck drivers by facilitating in Jio Platforms. real-time payments through the DBS RAPID GAIL (India) and Energy Efficiency (Real Time APIs by DBS) solution, thereby Services Ltd (EESL) sign MoU for enabling them to receive payments instantly. development of Trigeneration projects in South Africa and NASA collaborate to India: support human missions to Moon, Mars GAIL (India) and Energy Efficiency and beyond: Services Ltd have signed a Memorandum of South African National Space Agency Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi for (SANSA) has partnered with National cooperation in development of Aeronautics and Space Administration Trigeneration projects in India. (NASA) to host a deep-space ground station, 50:50 joint venture between GAIL & EESL which will support human spaceflight missions will be incorporated for undertaking to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Trigeneration projects. Facebook strikes global licensing deal CCI approves proposed merger between with Indian music label Saregama: Peugeot S.A and Fiat Chrysler Facebook has entered into a global deal with Automobiles N.V: Saregama one of India’s oldest and largest Competition Commission of India approves music labels, to license its music for video and merger between Peugeot SA (PSA) and Fiat other social experiences across its Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) . PSA is a eponymous service and Instagram. publicly listed limited liability company Saregama claims to offer songs in over incorporated in France. FCA is a public 25 languages. company with limited liability headquartered Facebook to acquire 9.9% stake in Jio in London. Platforms via Jaadhu Holdings: Tech Mahindra signs UN Global Compact Facebook will acquire 9 per cent stake in Initiative to reduce emissions: Jio Platforms announced last month via a Tech Mahindra a provider of digital new entity Jaadhu Holdings LLC, as per transformation, consulting and business regulatory documents. reengineering services signed a joint

declaration with UN Global Compact urging Empays Payment Systems partners governments to align their COVID-19 Mastercard to enable contact-free ATM recovery efforts with the latest climate cash withdrawals: science. Empays Payment Systems India Pvt Ltd, Tech Mahindra reaffirms its commitment to which built and runs the IMT Payment System achieving net-zero carbon emissions while announced a partnership with Mastercard to calling on governments to “prioritize a enable contact-free ATM cash withdrawals faster and fairer transition from a grey to in India. a green economy.” Bharti Airtel arm buys 6.3% more stake National Fertilizers Ltd ties up with ITI to in Robi Axiata from NTT Docomo: train youth in various trades: Bharti International (Singapore), a whole National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL) a central owned subsidiary (step-down) of Bharti Airtel PSU under the Department of Fertilizers has currently owns 25% stake in Robi Axiata, an started tying up with Industrial Training entity in Bangladesh. BISPL has acquired Institutes (ITI) located near to its plants to additional 6.3% stake in Robi from NTT train youth in various trades, which will DOCOMO and its group entities. enhance the chances of their employability TCS partners with NSDC to provide its in heavy and process industry. training partners access to the TCS iON Recykal partnered with UNDP, HCCB for Digital Glass Room: plastic waste management Project TCS iON, a strategic unit of Tata Consultancy Prithivi: Services has partnered with the National Recykal, a digital technology company in the Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to waste management space collaborated with provide its training partners access to digital United Nations Development Programme skilling tools using TCS' iON Digital Glass (UNDP) and Hindustan Coca-Cola Room. Beverages Pvt Ltd (HCCB) for Project EPaisa Joins Hand With First Alliance Prithvi, a joint initiative for developing Bank Zambia Ltd To Promote MPOS sustainable plastic waste management Solution In Africa: practices in the country. ePaisa, a point of sale (POS) solution provider in India’s has entered into a

partnership with First Alliance Bank (Z) Ltd Mother Dairy ties up with Zomato to in Zambia, Africa to provide mobile point of home deliver fruit, vegetables in Delhi- sale (mPOS) solution to the SME’s and other NCR: businesses in the country. Safal the Fruits and vegetables arm of Wipro partners with CloudKnox Security Mother Dairy has partnered with restaurant to protect hybrid, multi-cloud aggregator and food Delivery Company infrastructure: Zomato home deliver fruit and vegetables in Wipro and CloudKnox joint offering enables select locations of the National Capital enterprises to proactively protect and manage Region (NCR) . their Hybrid and Multi-Cloud infrastructure China's Great Wall Motor signs MoU with by continuously detecting and remediating Maharashtra, reaffirms plan to invest over-permissioned identities. USD 1 billion: IFFCO signs MoU with ICAR for joint Great Wall Motor, the latest Chinese research, testing, validation of products: automaker to enter the Indian market, signed Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative a memorandum of understanding with the Ltd (IFFCO) signed a MoU (Memorandum of Maharashtra government agreeing to invest Understanding) with The Indian Council of in modernising its Talegaon manufacturing Agricultural Research (ICAR) for plant and generate employment for 3,000 collaborative research, testing and validation people. of different products through ICAR institutes Infosys joins Amazon and Global and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) . Optimism backed Climate Pledge to NCERT collaborates with Rotary India for become net-zero carbon: e-learning content on TV: Infosys partnered with Amazon and Global With an aim to make e-learning more Optimism and signed the Climate Pledge to constructive, the National Council of become Net-Zero Carbon and will power its Educational Research and Training operations fully with renewable energy well (NCERT) and Rotary India joined hands for ahead of 2040, in an effort to protect the e-learning content for class 1-12 telecast planet. over all NCERT TV channels. The Climate Pledge calls on signatories to be net-zero carbon across their businesses by

2040 - a decade ahead of the Paris Accord’s offer Aadhaar based, offline e-KYC service Goal of 2050. for seamless customer on-boarding during Bharti Airtel acquires strategic stake in online application process for its life insurance edtech startup Lattu Media: solutions. Bharti Airtel has acquired a 10% stake in The initiative will further help Tata AIA Life Edtech startup Lattu Media Pvt Ltd (Lattu in going paperless by eliminating the need for Kids) as part of the Airtel Startup Accelerator physical documents viz. proof of identity, Program. Mumbai-based Lattu Kids address and date of birth for ‘Know Your specializes in digital learning tools for Customer’ (KYC) process when the children. customer opts for this service. Maruti Suzuki partners with Karur Vysya Facebook acquires Sweden’s Mapillary Bank for flexible financing schemes: for unknown sum to take on Google Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has partnered Maps: with Karur Vysya Bank to offer simpler and Facebook has acquired Swedish startup flexible financing schemes for new Mapillary, that is building a detailed, customers. Karur Vysya Bank offers accurate, and up to date global street-level customers in-principle loan sanction in 15 imagery platform, for an undisclosed sum. minutes. Atal Innovation Mission partners with CCI approves acquisition of Metso Oyj’s Coal India Ltd to boost its Innovation & minerals business by Outotec Oyj: Entrepreneurship initiatives: CCI approves the acquisition of Metso Oyj’s Coal India Limited (CIL) has agreed to ("Metso") minerals business by Outotec partner with Atal Innovation Mission Oyj ("Outotec") under Section 31(1) of the (AIM), NITI Aayog to support proactively Competition Act, 2002. It is to be achieved the flagship mission’s innovation and by a partial demerger of Metso Minerals entrepreneurship initiatives across the pursuant to the Finnish Companies Act. country. A Statement of Intent (SoI) of a Tata AIA Life introduces Aadhaar based strategic partnership between AIM and Coal offline e-KYC service: India Limited was signed and exchanged in a Tata AIA Life Insurance (Tata AIA Life) has virtual e-summit. tied up with East Consultancy Services to

Hyundai Motor India ties up with HDFC L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering (LTHE), a Bank for vehicle finance: wholly-owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has (L&T), has signed a memorandum of partnered with HDFC Bank to offer understanding with KBR to build Modular customized financing solutions for those Process Plants for refinery and petrochemical buying cars through its online automotive projects. retail platform 'Click to Buy'. Mastercard acquires Finicity to advance IIT Delhi and UN World Food Programme Open Banking strategy: to Increase Efficiency of Government’s Mastercard has entered into an agreement Food Security Net: to acquire Finicity for $825 million, with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT existing shareholders given the potential to Delhi) has collaborated with the United earn up to an additional $160 million if Nations World Food Programme (WFP), performance targets are met. India, to develop solutions for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of food security programmes of Government of India. The aim of this tie-up is to create “Sustainable Models” that can be used across the country and beyond. Biocon ties up with DKSH to distribute 7 products in Singapore and Thailand: Bio-technology major Biocon has signed an agreement with market expansion services provider DKSH for distribution of seven generic products in Singapore and Thailand. L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering signs MoU with KBR for Refinery and Petrochemical Projects:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: facility at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of CSIR-IIIM & Reliance Industries Limited Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar. This (RIL) to develop RT-LAMP based test for is to be used solely for treatment of COVID- Coronavirus: 19. Switzerland launched the world's first CSIR-IIIM, Jammu a constituent laboratory app based on Google and Apple's of CSIR partnered with Reliance Industries contact-tracing tech: Limited to develop a new Reverse Switzerland is the first country to launch a Transcriptase-Loop Mediated Isothermal contact-tracing app "SwissCovid" using the Amplification (RT-LAMP) based COVID-19 diagnostic kit for which a formal MOU has also specialized contact-tracing tech released by been signed. Google and Apple. DRDO’s RCI develops AI-based Google and Apple released their "exposure Attendance Application: notification" API earlier this month, and said 22 health authorities around the world have The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), DRDO, asked permission to use it. here has developed a AI-based Attendance Ola Electric acquires Etergo, looks to Application (AINA) which allows non-contact launch electric scooters in India by 2021: based personnel verification, using facial Ola Electric Mobility Pvt Ltd, electric features of the person, in the wake of COVID- vehicle arm of Ola acquired Amsterdam- 19 pandemic making it unsafe to use contact- based biometric verification for attendance based Etergo BV, manufacturer of electric marking systems. scooters. With this acquisition, Ola Electric AINA can be deployed with minimal will enter the premium electric two-wheeler upgradation to the legacy attendance market and manufacture these scooters. IIT Madras develops light-weight alloy to infrastructure with RFID (Radio Frequency replace steel, aluminium in cars: Identification) readers. Researchers at the IIT Madras, along with SKIMS in Srinagar gets its first of its kind the University of North Texas and US Army Infectious Disease Block facility: Research Laboratory, have developed a In the UT of J&K, Adviser to Lieutenant Governor Baseer Ahmad Khan inaugurated magnesium alloy with significantly a first of its kind Infectious Disease Block improved properties, that can replace steel

and aluminium in automotive and aerospace Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has launched components. a “WhatsApp chatbot” to address rights IIT Delhi researchers develop lighter, issue queries of its 2.6 million shareholders breathable PPE to fight Covid-19: on the offering. With a task of executing Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering massive Rs 53,125 crore rights issue amid a at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi nationwide lockdown, RIL has turned to has developed a breathable and light- WhatsApp Chatbot which has been developed weighted PPE (Personal Protective by Jio Haptik Technologies. Equipment) to fight COVID-19. Irrawaddy Dolphin population at Odisha CIPET to take up R&D initiatives in ‘s Chilika lake increased with the help of healthcare areas to deal with COVID-19: IIT Madras’ dredging methodology: Central Institute of Plastics Engineering A research project undertaken by the Indian and Technology under the Ministry of Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, has Chemicals and Fertilizers will take up helped triple the number of Irrawaddy Research and Development initiatives in the dolphins in Odisha’s Chilika lake, asia’s areas of Health Care, like Manufacturing and largest natural water reservoir. Certifying PPE to deal with COVID-19 The project involved the excavation pandemic. It has also expanded its capacity (loosening or dislodging) of unwanted to test food grain packaging. substances from the foothills without Facebook Launches New App Called damaging the lake’s ecosystem, removing the 'CatchUp' to Facilitate Group Phone loosened material to the dredge vessel & Chats: transportation of the material to the Facebook has come up with another calling placement area. application called “Catch-Up”. The idea Missile Park "Agneeprastha" To Be Set behind the new app is to coordinate call Up At INS Kalinga: timings with friends and family members. The The foundation stone for a Missile Park named new app is developed by the company’s New “Agneeprastha”, a one-stop arena for the Product Experimentation team. motivation of inquisitive minds regarding RIL launches WhatsApp chatbot to missiles, was laid at INS Kalinga, Andhra answer rights issue queries: Pradesh.

Free Online Career Skills Training Microsoft has announced the launch of a launched on NCS portal in partner with programme for agritech start-ups in India TCS iON: that are committed to driving transformation Ministry of Labour & Employment under in agriculture. its National Career Service project is offering The Microsoft for Agritech Startups free online "Career Skills Training" in programme is designed to help start-ups build partner with TCS iON for its registered industry-specific solutions, scale and grow jobseekers. This soft skills course assists with access to deep technology, business and learners in enhancing personality marketing resources. development. WHO launches ‘C-TAP’ for equitable IIT BHU to re-purpose approved drugs access to life-saving technology: from DrugBank database to treat COVID- World Health Organization (WHO) has 19 disease: launched the ‘COVID-19 Technology Science and Engineering Research Board Access Pool’ for equitable access to life- (SERB) has approved support for research at saving tech. This has been launched after the the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) request from at least 37 countries who (BHU) Varanasi to identify lead compounds jointly appealed to the World Health from available and approved drugs for anti- Organization for common ownership of SARS-CoV-2 drug molecules. vaccines, medicines and other diagnostic Hyundai Introduces Upgraded End-to- tools to combat the global health crisis. End Online Platform 'Click to Buy' For Tata AIG launches usage-based car Customers: insurance policy to help owners save Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) introduced its premiums: upgraded online end-to-end automotive retail Tata AIG General Insurance launched platform “Click to Buy” with an investment Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) private car of around $ 1 million (around 7.5 crores) policy for car owners under the IRDAI’s curated to provide future retail experience to Regulatory Sandbox. It will be available on customers in the wake pandemic. all policies offering personal accidental cover Microsoft launches programme for to the tune of Rs 15 lakhs for owner and agritech start-ups:

driver. The company also bought ‘Auto- study utilized an environmentally benign Safe’, a GPS enabled device. thermal gelation property of Methylcellulose DRDO develops device to keep PPE (MC) for shaping of ceramics through 3D wearers comfortable: printing. Defence Research Development Organisation 23-yer-old Maharashtra boy makes (DRDO) has developed a device SUMERU- world’s first ‘Internet-controlled’ robot PACS that helps wearers of Personal to help Covid-19 patients: Protective Equipment (PPE) comfortable Designed and created by Pratik Tirodkar, without sweating. founder of a start-up PNT Solutions, The DRDO officials found out, on the basis of Dombivali, recently, the first ‘Coro-bot’ the feedback received from doctors and independently dispenses food, water, medical staff, that the PPE wearers feel beverages, medicines – and even some good uncomfortable after wearing PPE for more advice – to Coronavirus patients without the than 30 to 45 minutes and start sweating needs for nurses, ward staff or other care- which makes the situation worse. givers. CeNS develops low-cost catalyst for IASST develops AI-based computer hydrogen generation from water: diagnosis framework for accurate oral Scientists from The Centre for Nano and cancer diagnosis: Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), an Scientists of Institute of Advanced Study in autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, Guwahati, have Science and Technology (DST), have developed an artificial intelligence-based found out a low cost & efficient way to algorithm as an aid to rapid diagnosis and generate hydrogen from water using prediction of oral squamous cell Molybdenum dioxide as a catalyst. carcinoma. The study was conducted using ARCI develops new environment friendly CNN(Convolutional Neural Network) . way to shape ceramics through 3D Researchers at IIT-Hyderabad develop printing: low-cost test kit that can detect Covid-19 Scientists at the International Advanced within 20 minutes: Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy Researchers at the Indian Institute of and New Materials (ARCI), in their recent Technology-Hyderabad have developed a

low cost and Artificial Intelligence-based test including, COVID-19 from high altitude areas kit for COVID-19. These kits can give results and remote places. in about 20 minutes. Prof Shiv Govid Singh The indigenous system has been developed at is the Lead researcher. a cost of only Rs 60,000 whereas imported ISRO signs MoU with ARIES To tackle systems cost up to Rs 60 lakh. space debris: IIT Guwahati Student’s Startup Flyzy ISRO recently signed an MoU with the Develops Mobile Application For Safe And Nainital-based Aryabhatta Research Contactless Air Travel: Institute of Observational Sciences Students of Indian Institute of Technology (ARIES) for cooperation in the field of Guwahati have developed a mobile astrophysics and Space Situational application, called ‘Flyzy’, to provide a Awareness (SSA) . seamless air travelling experience to DIAT Pune develops Nanotechnology- passengers during the pandemic. The based Disinfectant Spray to fight COVID- application has been developed by Deepak 19: Meena, Hansraj Patel, and Arjit Singh. Defence Institute of Advanced The aim of the application is to provide Technology, a Deemed to be University, contactless boarding keeping in mind the Pune has developed a Nanotechnology based easier baggage drop, manageable parking, disinfectant spray to combat COVID-19 by better shopping experience and providing disinfecting all types of surfaces. It has been necessary updates during the whole journey. named “ANANYA”. This can be used by ‘Mirror Image’ of the Earth and Sun anyone. discovered 3000 light-years away: Indian Air Force inducts indigenous Astronomers may have discovered an Earth- airborne rescue pod for critical and like exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star, a little COVID-19 patients: over 3,000 light-years away. The planet Indian Air Force has inducted an named 'Planet KOI-456.04', the indigenously developed Airborne Rescue unconfirmed exoplanet is thought to be Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT) similar to Earth for several reasons. It that can be utilised for the evacuation of receives 93% as much light as Earth gets critical patients with infectious diseases from the Sun.

CSIR-IHBT and Himachal Government microorganisms that are stuck to its outer partner to increase production of surface & thereby limit the spread of Saffron, Heeng: secondary infections. Saffron and Heeng (asafoetida) is the most Kerala Startup Invents Mask Disposal valuable spices of the world and widely used Smart Bin & UV Light-Based Disinfection in Indian cuisine since time immemorial. Device To Beat COVID-19: To increase the production of these two spices A startup named VST Mobility Solutions, in India, the Institute of Himalayan headquartered in Cochin, has reportedly Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) and launches an automated mask disposal the Department of Agriculture, Government machine “BIN-19” & “Ultraviolet (UV) of Himachal Pradesh, have forged strategic SPOT”. The purpose behind this invention is and implementation partnership based on to beat corona virus. their mutual strengths. BARC Develops High Quality And Cost- GRSE delivers fifth ship in Fast Patrol Effective Face Masks: Vessels” series to Indian Coast Guard: Mumbai-based Bhabha Atomic Research Premier warship builder Garden Reach Centre (BARC) has developed a high quality Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) face mask using High-Efficiency delivered ICGS Kanaklata Barua, the fifth Particulate Air (HEPA) filter which is and final ship in the series of Fast Patrol expected to be cost-effective. Vessels (FPV) for the Indian Coast Guard. DRDO develops ‘GermiKlean’ to sanitise This is the 105th vessel delivered by the uniforms of security forces: Defence PSU shipyard based on the banks of DRDO designed and developed a dry heat river Hooghly. treatment chamber named “GermiKlean”. IIT-BHU develops Anti-microbial This chamber is designed to sanitize 25 pairs multilayer face mask to annihilate of uniforms within 15 minutes. pathogenic microorganisms: Tata Power signs MoU with MG Motor for Dr Marshal & his team at the School of Electric Vehicle chargers: Biomedical Engineering, IIT-BHU have Tata Power has signed a Memorandum of developed an anti-microbial 5-layered face Understanding (MoU) with MG Motor to mask. It can annihilate pathogenic

deploy 50KW DC Superfast chargers at select Nanofibres of Ayurvedic products which MG dealerships. acts a virus neutraliser and resist the bacteria MG Motor India has 10 SuperFast 50 kW and has named it “Pavitrapati”. charging stations across its dealerships in five The mask made from herbal extracts like cities – New Delhi- NCR, Mumbai, neem oil, turmeric, krishna tulsi, ajwain, Ahmadabad, Bangalore and Hyderabad. black pepper, gum Arabic, clove, China’s unmanned submersible ‘Haidou- sandalwood, saffron in the fibre that 1’ reaches world’s deepest ocean point: provides antibacterial and anti viral China’s unmanned submersible ‘Haidou-1’ properties. has dived to a depth of 10, 907 meters at Central Railway sets up Body Screening the world’s deepest ocean point. Haidou-1 Facility ‘FebriEye’ In Mumbai’s CSMT, LTT sets a new record for the country during Stations: which high-definition images of the Central Railway has set up a body screening geological environment and samples from the facility called This is yet another effort Deep Sea were collected. towards passenger safety after Automated India becomes founding member of Ticket Checking And Managing Access Global Partnership for Artificial (ATMA) machine and Always be Responsible, Intelligence: “FebriEye thermal cameras” have been set India joined the league of leading economies up at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj including USA, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus France & others to launch the Global in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Partnership on Artificial Intelligence IISc develops ‘Workplace Readiness (GPAI) . India will actively participate in the Indicator’ for organizations to insulate global development of Artificial Intelligence. workplaces from Corona pandemic: Defence Institute of Advanced Researchers in IISc, Bengaluru have Technology develops Ayurvedic face developed ‘Workplace Readiness mask ‘Pavitrapati’: Indicator’ for organizations to insulate their Defence Institute of Advanced workplaces from Corona pandemic. It is an Technology (DIAT) has developed online assessment tool developed along biodegradable face mask based on

with the Karnataka State Disaster European governments hope will revive Management Authority. travel and tourism safely. Indian Railways installs first ‘Automated Mumbai gets ‘Air-Venti’ app for real-time Ticket Checking & Managing Access’ information on ICU beds, ventilators: machine under NFR scheme: In Maharashtra, the Municipal Corporation Indian Railway’s Central Railway zone has of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has launched a first time installed a newly innovated mobile app "Air-Venti" to help residents in Automated Ticket Checking & Managing the city to know about the availability of the Access machine (ATMA) at Nagpur railway ICU beds and Ventilators in both station. government and private hospitals. The machine has been introduced at the IIT Mandi team develops infusion station under New, Innovative Non-Fare technology for herbs in mid-Himalayan Revenue Ideas Scheme (NINFRIS) policy region to help farmers: to prevent Covid19 transmission to generate The team at the Institute's Botanical Non-Fare Revenue for the Central Railway Garden and Medicinal Plant Lab analysed zone. various herbs growing in the mid-Himalayan Students in West Bengal Have Built region in and around the villages surrounding ‘Ayurvedic Sanitisation Tunnel’ for Their IIT Mandi, Kamand region. School: The technology is ready to license industries Students of a private school in East Burdwan interested in working with Enabling Women district of West Bengal have built an of Kamand(EWOK) - a rural incubator at IIT ”Ayurvedic Sanitisation Tunnel” to Mandi, in the interest of empowering the disinfect people entering the educational Kamand Valley farmers. institute. Twelve people can be disinfected IIT-Guwahati develops low-cost, high- inside the tunnel at a time. quality ‘Made in Assam’ Covid-19 kits: Germany Launches Coronavirus App as IIT-Guwahati in association with RR EU Eyes Travel Revival: Animal Healthcare Ltd and Guwahati Germany launched an app “Corona-Warn- Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has App” to help break the chain of corona virus developed viral transport media (VTM) kits, infections, one of several such apps that RT-PCR kits and RNA isolation kits. The first

lot of 20,000 VTM kits, used to keep the price of about Rs 103/tablet. It is the first collected nasal and throat swab samples. oral favipiravir-approved medication in India. IIT-Madras and General Electric tie-up to Amazon to host Small Business Day on build a next-gen combustor for small June 27 to help SME sellers: aircraft and helicopter engines: Major E-commerce Amazon will host the IIT Madras and General Electric India third edition of its sale event Small Business Technology Centre (GEITC) are jointly Day (SBD) 2020 on June 27 to help small developing a 3D printed combustor aimed businesses, artisans, weavers, micro- at reducing weight and improving fuel entrepreneurs and start-ups rebound from efficiency in small aircraft and helicopter economic disruption created by the Covid-19 engines. pandemic. The Rs 7.24 crore Uchhatar Avishkar ISRO Receives Patent for Liquid Cooling Yojana (UAY) mission is being carried out by and Heating Garment for Astronauts: the aerospace division on the Institute and is ISRO has received a patent for its Liquid being funded by the federal government of Cooling and Heating Garment made of India (75%) and GEITC (25%) . biocompatible fabrics and components to Reliance Industries becomes India's first provide a comfortable temperature and firm to hit Rs.11 trillion market cap: removal of sweat for astronauts, for use in Reliance Industries Ltd became the first space for protection from hot and cold Indian company to reach a market environments. capitalisation of Rs.11 trillion as its shares China successfully launches last satellite doubled since mid-March. The stock rallied to BeiDou Navigation Satellite System: hit a record high of Rs.1,738.95 on the BSE, China successfully launched the last satellite up about 5%. of its BeiDou Navigation Satellite System Glenmark launches COVID-19 drug (BDS), touted to be a competitor to the FabiFlu at Rs. 103 per tablet: Global Positioning System (GPS) of the Drug firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals US, taking another step to becoming a major launched antiviral drug Favipiravir, under space power. the brand name “FabiFlu” for treatment of patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 at a

The satellite, carried by a Long March-3B APPOINTMENTS: carrier rocket, is the 30th BDS-3 satellite and Periasamy Kumaran takes over as the the 55th of the whole BeiDou satellite family. High Commissioner of India to IIT-Bombay develops chip Dhruva to be Singapore: used in smartphones and navigation Periasamy Kumaran has been appointed as devices to find locations: the next High Commissioner of India to The IIT-Bombay has developed a homegrown Republic Of Singapore. receiver chip “Dhruva” that can be used in P Kumaran will replace the current High smart phones and navigation devices to find Commissioner of India to Singapore, Jawed locations and routes within the country. Ashraf, who took over more than three years Dhruva will receive signals from India’s ago in November 2016. Ashraf is to take over NAVIC group of navigation satellites as well as as the High Commissioner of India to France. the US Global Positioning System-based Brazil's Marcos Troyjo to succeed KV satellites to determine these accurately under Kamath as NDB President: all weather conditions. Brazil’s Marcos Troyjo will succeed India’s Indian Institute of Science develops KV Kamath as president of the New Nanozymes: Development Bank (NDB) . Elections for the A research team at the IISc, Bengaluru has post were held during a special meeting of the developed nanozymes that destroy the cell bank’s Board Of Governors. membrane of bacteria by directly targeting its India’s Anil Kishora will be the bank’s vice- phospholipids. Nanozymes are president and chief risk officer. nanomaterials that can disintegrate the cell Tsai ing-wen begins second term as membranes of a range of diseases causing Taiwan's President: bacteria. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen took the

oath for her second four-year term, buoyed

by popularity as the country continues its

successful response to the pandemic. She

pledged to engage in dialogue with Beijing provided it respects Taiwan’s sovereignty.

JP Morgan Appoints former UTI Mutual Senior IAS officer Vishwas Mehta has been Fund CEO Leo Puri as South Asia head: appointed as the new chief secretary of Leo Puri will take over from current Kerala. Dr Mehta, who's now Additional Chief chairperson Kalpana Morparia, who will Secretary (Home), will assume office on retire in the first quarter of next year. As part June 1. The incumbent chief secretary Tom of his responsibilities, Puri will cover JP Jose is set to retire on May 31. Morgan’s external stakeholders including key R Sreelekha to Become Kerala's First clients, regulators, and industry bodies. Woman DGP: Sandip Mukund Pradhan's tenure as Kerala Police gets its first woman Director Sports Authority of India DG extended by General, R. Sreelekha and will head Kerala two years: Fire and Rescue Services. Presently an Sandip Mukund Pradhan, the Director- Additional Director General of Police, she General of Sports Authority of India (SAI) heads the Jail Department. She became the has been given an extension for his central first woman Superintendent of Police in 1991. deputation tenure. The extension has been IRDAI member Nilesh Sathe appointed given for a period of two years and it will come NHAI finance advisor: into effect from June 6, 2020. Nilesh Sathe former IRDAI member and GE Power India appoints Mahesh veteran Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has Palashikar as Chairman: joined National Highways Authority of GE Power India Ltd (GEPIL), formerly known India (NHAI) as Financial Advisor. as Alstom India, has designated Mahesh Jonathan Karp Promoted to CEO of Simon Shrikrishna Palashikar as its Additional & Schuster: Director and Non-Executive Chairman. Jonathan Karp, who has worked with Palashikar was the President and CEO of GE authors ranging from Sen. Edward Kennedy South Asia. He succeeded Vishal Keerti to Susan Orlean, has been named the new Wanchoo. CEO of Simon & Schuster. Vijay Sharma appointed as Additional & Karp joined the company in 2010 and served Whole-time Director of GE Power. as the president and publisher of Simon & Vishwas Mehta to take over as chief Schuster Adult Publishing. He replaces secretary of Kerala: Carolyn Reidy who passed away recently.

Banks Board Bureau selects SN Power Finance Corporation board clears Rajeswari as CMD of Oriental Insurance RS Dhillon's appointment as CMD: Company: State-run Power Finance Corporation SN Rajeswari general manager of New (PFC) under the Ministry of Power announced India Assurance(NIA),has been selected the appointment of Ravinder Singh Dhillon, by the Banks Board Bureau (BBB), as the currently its Director, as Chairman and CMD of the Delhi based Oriental Insurance Managing Director from June 1 following Company(OIC) . superannuation of Rajeev Sharma this month. AV Girija Kumar CMD, OIC, is retiring this Capgemini Appoints Aiman Ezzat as its month end after reaching 60. new CEO: Wipro appoints Capgemini’s Thierry Capgemini has appointed its Chief Operating Delaporte as new CEO and MD: Officer Aiman Ezzat as its new Chief Wipro has appointed Thierry Delaporte as Executive Officer. Ezzat will be succeeding its chief executive officer and managing Paul Hermelin, Chairman and CEO, the Board director to replace outgoing Abidali of Directors of Capgemini SE. Neemuchwala. Delaporte, who was the chief Ezzat will succeed Paul Hermelin as CEO operating officer of Capgemini, becomes the after the General Meeting of Shareholders in second member from the French IT giant to 2020. head an Indian IT services provider after IIT-IIM alumnus S Gopalakrishnan Infosys CEO Salil Parekh. appointed as additional secretary in Mohit Gupta appointed as co-founder of PMO: Zomato: S Gopalakrishnan a senior Tamil Nadu cadre Ant Financial-backed food delivery unicorn IAS officer, has been appointed as additional Zomato has elevated Mohit Gupta CEO of secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. its food delivery business, as its co-founder. Gopalakrishnan’s appointment was cleared by Prior to joining Zomato in 2018, Gupta was the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet with online travel giant MakeMyTrip for over led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is a decade. He has also had a long stint with currently serving at the Ministry of PepsiCo International, among other places. Electronics.

Professor Sonajharia Minz appointed as appointment has been made in accordance Vice-Chancellor of Sido Kanhu Murmu with the UK Cabinet Office’s Governance Code University: on Public Appointments. Governor Draupadi Murmu of Jharkhand Malhi is Professor of Ecosystem Science at appointed Prof. Sonajharia Minz as vice- University of Oxford. chancellor of Sido Kanhu Murmu University Venkataramani Sumantran appointed as (SKMU), Dumka (Jharkhand) . new independent director at Indigo: Draupadi Murmu is also the Chancellor of the Chairman and Managing Director of Chennai- universities in Jharkhand. Prof. Sonajharia based Celeris Technologies, Venkatramani Minz is a Professor of School of Computer and Sumantran, is now the independent director Systems Sciences in Jawaher Lal Nehru at IndiGo. He is also on several advisory and University, Delhi. statutory boards in India and abroad. He will Finance Ministry appoints PR Jaishankar hold the post for the next five years. managing director of IIFCL: Arun Singhal appointed as CEO Food Ministry of finance appointed PR Jaishankar Safety and Standards Authority of India: as the managing director of the India Cabinet approved the appointment of Arun Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd Singhal as chief executive officer of the apex (IIFCL) . He has served as the executive food regulator Food Safety and Standards director of the National Housing Bank prior to Authority of India. He will succeed GSG this after the recommendations of Bank Ayyangar who was briefly appointed as the Boards Bureau CEO. Harsha Bangari appointed deputy managing BBB recommends Ashwini Bhatia for post director of Exim Bank. of SBI MD: Boris Johnson appoints Indian-origin The Banks Board Bureau headed by B P Oxford professor as Natural History Sharma. Recommended names of Ashwini Museum Trustee: Bhatia, M V Rao and P P Sengupta for the post British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of managing director of three state-owned appointed Indian-origin academic Yadvinder lenders - State Bank of India, Central Bank of Malhi as a new Trustee of the Natural India and Indian Overseas Bank, respectively. History Museum in London. His

Pradip Kumar Tripathi Assumes Charge Lakshmi Vilas Bank CEO Subramanian as Secretary in Ministry of Steel: Sundar gets extension: Shri Pradip Kumar Tripathi has assumed Reserve Bank of India has approved the charge as Secretary, Ministry of Steel and extension of tenure for Lakshmi Vilas Government of India on 1 June 2020. He took Bank’s MD and CEO, Subramanian Sundar over as Secretary upon the superannuation of by six months. This is the second extension present incumbent Binoy Kumar. The given to Mr Subramanian Sundar who was the appointment was approved by the MD & CEO (interim) from January 1, 2020, to Appointment Committee of Cabinet April 30. Mohandas Pai to chair IBBI advisory R K Chaturvedi Assumes Charge as committee on service providers: Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of Petrochemicals: India reconstituted its advisory committee on R K Chaturvedi, IAS officer of Madhya service providers and is to be chaired by T V Pradesh cadre, assumed charge as Secretary Mohandas Pai. The 12-member panel Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, would advise and provide professional Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. He has support on regulation and development of the replaced P Raghavendra Rao. service providers dealt with by the IBBI. He was serving as an Additional Secretary and Lt Gen Manoj Pande to take over as Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Culture. Commander-in-Chief of Andaman and Sibi George appointed India’s next Nicobar Command: Ambassador to Kuwait: Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, AVSM, Sibi George, an Indian Foreign Service officer VSM, will take over as the 15th Commander- of 1993 batch, has been appointed India’s in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar next Ambassador to Kuwait. He is at present Command (CINCAN) . He will replace LtGen India’s Ambassador in Switzerland. Podali Shankar Rajeshwar . A Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) During his 37 years of distinguished service, release stated that George is expected to take Pande has taken an active part in Operation up his new assignment shortly. Vijay and Operation Parakram. Mindshare’s Anita Kotwani joins Carat India as CEO:

Carat India has announced the appointment Uday Kotak appointed as new president of Anita Kotwani as chief executive officer. of Confederation of Indian Industry: Kotwani moves from Mindshare India where Veteran banker Uday Kotak, Managing she was senior vice president, new business director and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank and client lead, The Walt Disney business. Limited has assumed office as the president Harsha Bangari takes charges as Exim of the Confederation of Indian Industry Bank Deputy Managing Director: (CII) for 2020-21. Harsha Bangari took charge as Deputy Uday Kotak takes over from Vikram Managing Director at Export-Import Bank Kirloskar, chairman and managing director of India (EXIM Bank) . Prior to this, Bangari of Kirloskar Systems Ltd and vice chairman of was the Chief General Manager and Chief Toyota Kirloskar Motor.’ Sanjiv Bajaj takes Financial Officer of the bank. over as CII vice-president. Gaitri Kumar Appointed India's Next Virendra Nath Datt becomes new CMD of High Commissioner To UK: National Fertilizers Limited: Seasoned diplomat Gaitri Kumar has been National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) appointed as India's next High Commissioner Marketing Director, Virendra Nath Datt has to the United Kingdom (UK) . Ms Kumar taken additional charge of Chairman & succeeds Ruchi Ghanashyam. At present, Managing Director of the Company. He will Ms Kumar is serving as Indian Ambassador to replace Manoj Mishra. Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Sushil Kumar Singhal appointed India's Union (EU) . next High Commissioner to Papua New BAFTA Appoints Emmy-winning Guinea: Krishnendu Majumdar as Chair: Sushil Kumar Singhal has been appointed The British Academy of Film and Television as the next Indian High Commissioner to Arts (BAFTA) appointed Krishnendu Papua New Guinea. He is presently serving Majumdar as chairperson, making him the as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of first person of colour assigned for the role in External Affairs (MEA) . 73 years, and the youngest in 35 years. He Raveesh Kumar becomes new succeeds Pippa Harris. Ambassador of India to Finland:

Raveesh Kumar has been appointed as the Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar next Ambassador of India to Finland. He is joins Rohit, Hima as Adidas brand presently serving as the Joint Secretary in the ambassador: Ministry. He is an IFS officer of 1995 batch. Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar joined He will replace Vani Rao as the next the likes of star batsman Rohit Sharma, Ambassador of India to Finland. sprint sensation Hima Das and Bollywood Twitter To Appoint Former Google CFO actor Ranveer Singh as brand ambassador Exec Patrick Pichette As Chairperson: of footwear giant Adidas in its campaign to Twitter Inc appointed Patrick Pichette who inspire more women to embrace fitness. had been Twitter's lead independent director Chhillar will support #HOMETEAMHERO since 2018 and a former CFO at Google, as Challenge inspiring more people every single the social network's board chairman, marking day to stay physically and mentally fit. the first time in Twitter's history that an Rajiv Singh appointed as DLF Chairman: outsider will preside over the group. Patrick Realty major DLF has appointed vice- Pichette will replace Omid Kordestani. chairman Rajiv Singh as the new chairman Prime Minister's private secretary Rajeev of the company by replacing KP Singh. The Topno moves to World Bank, Brajendra latter will continue in a non-executive role as Navnit to WTO: Chairman Emeritus, who was at the helm of Senior bureaucrat Rajeev Topno, private the affairs for over five decades. secretary to the prime minister, has been Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K appointed as senior advisor to the Executive Shanmugam gets three-month Director (ED), World Bank, a personnel extension: ministry. The Tenure of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K Brajendra Navnit who served in the Prime Shanmugam has been extended by three Minister's Office (PMO) has been appointed as months till October 31. Ambassador and Permanent Representative At present, there are 25 senior IAS officers of India to the World Trade Organization in the cadre of Additional Chief Secretary in (WTO), Geneva, Switzerland. the Tamil Nadu government as well as those who are on deputation to the Centre.

L&T board reappoints AM Naik as non- Corporation & Sompo Japan Insurance executive chairman for 3 years: has appointed Sharad Mathur as Managing Larsen & Toubro on Saturday said its board Director & CEO. Sharad was associated with has given nod for reappointment of A M Naik SBI General Insurance. as non-executive chairman of the company Tamil Nadu: 13 year old Madurai girl for a period of three years from October 1, appointed Goodwill Ambassador of 2020. Also the tenure of whole-time Director UNADAP Dip Kishore Sen was extended for 3 yrs. Tamil Nadu, a thirteen-year old Madurai girl Karnataka Bank appoints Ramesh S as Nethra has been appointed the Goodwill Chief Risk Officer: Ambassador of the United Nations Association The Board of Karnataka Bank has for Development and Peace, the UNADAP. It designated Ramesh S, General Manager, in- was in recognition of her role in feeding the charge of Risk Management Department, as poor during the COVID-19 lockdown by her the Chief Risk officer (CRO) of the Bank w.e.f. father, a hairdresser by profession. 06 June 020, in place of Prakash Kumar. Lawyer Javed Iqbal Wani appointed J&K IIFL Finance signs Rohit Sharma as its High Court Judge: first-ever brand ambassador: President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Non-Banking finance company IIFL Finance senior Kashmiri lawyer Javed Iqbal Wani as has signed up India’s superstar cricketer a Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Rohit Sharma as its first-ever brand Court. He also served as additional advocate ambassador. general of Jammu and Kashmir High Court for R Venkataraman, Managing Director and nearly 11 months in 2019. Co-Promoter, IIFL Group said, “We are glad Anil Valluri appointed as senior director to announce India's leading batsman, Rohit for Google Cloud India: Sharma, as IIFL's brand ambassador. Google Cloud has appointed Anil Valluri as Sharad Mathur is the new MD and CEO of Senior Director for Google Cloud in India. Universal Sompo General Insurance: Valluri has over 30 years of experience in Universal Sompo, a joint venture between sales and marketing in the hi-tech industry. Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Before joining Google Cloud, Valluri was the Karnataka Bank, Dabur Investments

President of India & SAARC operations at Indian-origin Prabhakar Raghavan has NetApp. been promoted as the head of Google Monika Kapil Mohta appointed India's Search and Assistant: next Ambassador to Switzerland: American tech giant Google has appointed Diplomat Monika Kapil Mohta has been Prabhakar Raghavan as the head of Search appointed as the next Ambassador of India to and Assistant. Raghavan will be succeeding Switzerland, the Ministry of External Affairs Ben Gome, who will be given a new role and (MEA) announced. Presently, Mohta, an will report directly to Google CEO Sundar Indian Foreign Service officer of 1985 batch, Pichai. is India's Ambassador to Sweden. Nagarjuna cement signs Actor Varun Tej Lakshmi Vilas Bank appoints B K as brand ambassador: Manjunath as non-exec, independent Hyderabad-headquartered NCL Industries director: has signed Varun Tej Konidela, star of Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) has appointed B K Telugu cinema, as the brand ambassador for Manjunath as its non-executive and its cement brand, Nagarjuna Cement. independent director. Manjunath is a member Actor Sonu Sood appointed as brand of the Institute of Chartered Accountants ambassador of Gargo International: of India and practising as a chartered Gargo International, the delhi based accountant. lubricant company under the RG group Shri Shambhu S. Kumaran has been appoints Sonu Sood as the brand appointed as the next Ambassador of ambassador in January 2020 & praised him India to the Republic of Philippines: now for his support works for the migrants Diplomat Shambhu S Kumaran has been and went live with their TVC starring Sonu appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Sood. the Philippines, the Ministry of External Affairs IDBI Bank's board approves (MEA) said. Kumaran is presently appointment of Anshuman Sharma as Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of govt nominee director: Morocco. The Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Anshuman Sharma, Director, Ministry of Finance, Department of

Financial Services, as government nominee RBI approves re-appointment of Kaizad director Bharucha as Executive Director of HDFC Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta takes Bank: charge as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Reserve Bank of India has approved the re- Command: appointment of Kaizad Bharucha as Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, assumed Executive Director of HDFC Bank for a period charge as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval of three years with effect from June 13, Command (ENC) . Dasgupta will succeed 2020. Vice Admiral S N Ghormade after he has Recently the central bank had put on hold the proceeded on transfer as Controller Personnel appointments of Shashidhar Jagdishan as Services at the Integrated Headquarters, an additional director and Bhavesh Zaveri as Ministry of Defence (Navy), New Delhi. a whole-time director. Imtaiyazur Rahman is appointed as the R R Swain appointed Intelligence Chief of CEO of UTI Mutual Fund: Jammu and Kashmir: After Two years appointing Imtaiyazur Jammu and Kashmir Government appointed Rahman as the acting CEO, the Board of UTI R.R Swain (IPS) as the new intelligence Mutual Fund has confirmed him as Chief chief of J&K police, replacing Dr. B Executive Officer of UTI Asset Management Srinivas who has been posted as Committee. He will succeed Leo Puri whose Commandant General, HG/CD/SDRF. 5-year tenure was over in August 2018. Maya R Nair Joins CRISIL as Director & Actor Pankaj Tripathi Became The Brand Chief Information Security Officer Ambassador Of Bihar Khadi: (CISO) : Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi has been Senior cyber security professional and expert appointed as the brand ambassador of Bihar Maya R Nair has joined as Director & Chief Khadi by the state government. He is Information Security Officer (CISO) at originally from Bihar. He will promote Bihar CRISIL Limited. She will take care of the Khadi and the country’s largest Khadi Mall in entire range of cybersecurity operations at Patna. the company. Santosh Jha appointed as next Ambassador of India to Belgium:

Santosh Jha presently Ambassador of India Director on the Board of Directors of Small to the Republic of Uzbekistan, appointed as Industries Development Bank of India the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom (SIDBI) . He will be succeeding Ram Mohan of Belgium. The 1993-batch IFS officer will Mishra. also be accredited as Ambassador of India to Cricket Australia appoints Nick Hockley the European Union. as the interim CEO: SARC & Associates appointed as auditor Cricket Australia has a new man at the helm of PM CARES Fund for 3 Years: in Nick Hockley after former CEO Kevin Prime Minister’s Citizens Assistance and Relief Roberts resigned. Hockley, who is the Chief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund, executive of the T20 World cup, will fill the appointed “SARC & Associates, Chartered position in an interim role. The decision was Accountants, New Delhi, as the auditors” for announced by Cricket Australia chairman, three years. The Firm is headed by Sunil Earl Eddings Kumar Gupta who audits the PM National PayU India appoints Shantanu Preetam Relief Fund. as Chief Technology Officer: Attorney General K K Venugopa to get 1- India’s leading online payment solutions year extension: provider PayU announced the appointment of Attorney General K K Venugopal has agreed Shantanu Preetam to the India leadership for extension of one more year as a top law team as Chief Technology Officer. officer of the country. Venugopal is a leading Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister lawyer of the country was appointed as Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev resigns: Attorney General and had succeeded Mukul Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Rohatgi on June 30, 2017. Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev has resigned Devendra Kumar Singh appointed as the from the post. He resigned due to citing an new Director of SIDBI: ongoing criminal investigation into the Ministry of Finance notified the appointment assignment of national radio frequencies. of Devendra Kumar Singh, Additional Evariste Ndayishimiye to be sworn in as Secretary & Development Commissioner, Burundi’s new president: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Evariste Ndayishimiye will be sworn in as Enterprises, as Central Government nominee Burundi's newly elected president after the

sudden death of the incumbent, Pierre Former RBI governor Urjit Patel Nkurunziza. Ndayishimiye, 52, is a former appointed as chairman of NIPFP: army general and Hutu rebel like his Former Governor of Reserve Bank of India predecessor. Urjit Patel who resigned from his post in Dec D. K. Jain gets one-year extension as 2018 has been appointed as the chairman of BCCI ethics officer and ombudsman: the New Delhi Based economic think tank Board of Control for Cricket in India National Institute of Public Finance and (BCCI) has extended the contract of its Policy (NIPFP) for a period of four years. ombudsman and ethics officer, Justice He replaces Dr Vijay Laxman Kelkar. (retired) D. K. Jain, by a year. He was the Axis Bank's Pralay Mondal to join first-ever ombudsman of BCCI appointed Catholic Syrian Bank: by the Supreme Court in February 2019. Pralay Mondal, who recently resigned as Volkan Bozkir of Turkey elected executive director and head of retail banking president of UN General Assembly: at Axis Bank, is likely to soon join private Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir has been sector lender CSB Bank (Catholic Syrian elected president of the 75th session of the Bank) at a senior position. United Nations General Assembly. JSW Cement unveils “Leader’s Choice” Bozkir was running uncontested. He won campaign with Sourav Ganguly and Sunil unanimous support from the 178 UN member Chhetri as brand ambassadors: states that were present in voting that was JSW Cement has brought on board former conducted by secret ballot. He will take over Indian cricket captain & current President of from Tijjani Muhammad-Bande. the Board of Control for Cricket in India Kubatbek Boronov appointed as Prime (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly and Captain of Minister of Kyrgyzstan: India’s National Football Team & Bengaluru Kubatbek Boronov was appointed as FC, Sunil Chhetri as its brand ambassadors. Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister. Kyrgyzstan’s The company is rolling out its new marketing President Sooronbai Jeenbekov signed an campaign “Leader’s Choice” featuring both order to appoint him. He succeeded these sports icons on June 20th across West Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziyev who Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. resigned against corruption.

Nirakar Pradhan takes over as Jaideep Nandi appointed as new MD of Professional Risk Managers Bajaj Consumer Care: International Association chief: Bajaj Consumer Care Limited has The Professional Risk Managers' International appointed Jaideep Nandi as its new Association has appointed Dr Nirakar Managing Director. Nandi is currently the Pradhan, CFA, as the Chief Executive Officer company's Chief Executive Officer and will of its new India office. Pradhan has led teams take over as the managing director effective at State Bank of India. 1 July. He will succeed Sumit Malhotra. RBI approves re-appointment of Prakash BMW India appoints Vikram Pawah as Chandra as non-exec Chairman of RBL new president Succeed Rudratej Singh: Bank: German luxury car maker BMW appoints Reserve Bank of India has approved the re- Vikram Pawah as the president of BMW appointment of Prakash Chandra, Group India effective August 1, 2020, in Independent Director, as Non-Executive addition to his current role as chief executive (Part-Time) Chairman of Private sector lender officer of BMW Group Australia and New RBL Bank till July 23, 2021. Zealand. Vikram Pawah succeeds Rudratej National champion Niki Poonacha Singh after his sudden death. elected to International Tennis Vijay Khanduja appointed India's next Federation panel: envoy to Zimbabwe: National champion Niki Poonacha has been Vijay Khanduja, presently Director in the elected to the International Tennis Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has Federation (ITF) men’s player panel and will been appointed as India's next Ambassador to represent the Asia-Oceania zone along with Ti Zimbabwe. Chen of Chinese Taipei. RBI re-nominates Natarajan The ITF also has a women’s player panel with Chandrasekaran as Director of its Central Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan. board: The men’s and women’s panels will be headed “The Central Government has re-nominated by Mark Woodforde and Mary Pierce, Natarajan Chandrasekaran as a part-time respectively. non-official Director on the Central Board of Reserve Bank of India, for a further period

of two years beyond March 3, 2020, or until executive of the UK’s Financial Conduct further orders, whichever is earlier.” Authority (FCA) . He will succeed FCA’s Colin Shah takes over as Chairman and interim CEO Christopher Woolard. Vipul Shah elected as the Vice Chairman T. Rabi Sankar appointed as Chairman & of GJEPC: Dr N Rajendran as CEO of IFTAS: The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Indian Financial Technology & Allied Council (GJEPC), apex body for gems and Services (IFTAS) a wholly owned subsidiary jewellery trade in India, under the aegis of of Reserve Bank of India announces the Ministry of Commerce announced the appointments of Shri. T Rabi Sankar as the appointment of Colin Shah as the Chairman Chairman and Dr N Rajendran as the CEO of of GJEPC. the organization effective May 15 & May 27 Colin Shah will take charge as Chairman from respectively. the outgoing Chairman Pramod Kumar Standard Chartered appoints Gaurav Agrawal. Also, Vipul Shah has been elected Maheshwari as CFO-India: Standard Chartered Bank, India has and appointed as the Vice Chairman of appointed Gaurav Maheshwari as its new GJEPC. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective June Indian-American Scientist Sethuraman 22, 2020. Maheshwari has taken over from Panchanathan To Head National Science Subhradeep Mohanty, who was promoted Foundation: as the CFO for the Africa & Middle East The US Senate has confirmed the (AME) region. appointment of Indian-American scientist Wasim Jaffer Appointed Head Coach Of Sethuraman Panchanathan as the Director Uttarakhand Cricket Team: of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Former India opener and domestic stalwart Dr Panchanathan, also known as “Panch” among family and friends, is set to head the Wasim Jaffer has been appointed head top American science funding body supporting coach of the Uttarakhand Cricket Team for fundamental research in non-medical fields of the upcoming domestic season. Science and Engineering. The highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy, Rishi Sunak appoints Indian-origin CEO Jaffer had announced retirement in March this Nikhil Rathi as UK financial Regulatory: year after playing for over two decades, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak primarily for domestic giants Mumbai and appointed Indian-origin chief of the London Vidarbha. Stock Exchange Nikhil Rathi as the new chief

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS: TCS Wins Two Stevie Awards for 2019 Indian Army Major Suman Gawani First TCS New York City Marathon App: Indian Peacekeeper to Win UN Military Tata Consultancy Services, a leading Gender Award: global IT service, consulting and business solutions organization, has won two Woman peacekeeper and Indian Army officer, Steviesin the 2020 American Business Major Suman Gawani is selected for the Awards, the nation's premier business awards United Nations Military Gender Advocate of program, for the 2019 TCS New York City the Year Award. Recognized for her work her Marathon app. campaign against sexual violence, she is the first Indian Peacekeeper to win the award. Anish Kapoor tops list of ''Most She was described as ‘powerful role model’ Successful Indian Artists Alive Today by the UN Chief. 2020'': Indian American Scientist Rajiv Joshi London-based Anish Kapoor, 66, has topped the Hurun India Art List 2020 for the Wins ‘Inventor of The Year’ Award In second year. New Delhi-based painter New York: Rameshwar Broota 79, shot up 9 places to Prolific Indian American inventor Rajiv Joshi, second place with sales of Rs 11.89 crores, with more than 250 patented inventions, has followed by modernist painter Krishen bagged the prestigious Inventor of the Year Khanna, 95, in third place with Rs 6.87 crores. award for his pioneering work in advancing the electronic industry and improving Artificial The top artists also inlude Raqib Shaw, Intelligence capabilities. Arpita Singh, Sakti Burman, Subodh IBM scientist Rajiv Joshi wins NYIPLA Gupta, Atul Dodiya, Thota Vaikuntam and Inventor of the year Award 2020: Jitish Kallat. SA scientist Quarraisha Abdool Karim Indian-American IBM scientist, Rajiv Joshi wins R10m French prize: has bagged the prestigious NYIPLA Acclaimed HIV researcher Professor “Inventor of the Year award” for the year Quarraisha Abdool Karim, who found that 2020. This award is given for his contribution a topical gel could stop many women catching to advancing the electronic industry and improving artificial intelligence (AI) the virus, has been awarded one of France’s capabilities. top science prizes.

Abdool Karim won the €500 000 (about R9 year 2020. Kohli is ranked at number 66 with 577 995) Christophe Merieux Prize for her estimated earnings of $26 million. work for the Durban-based Centre for the Tennis legend Roger Federer has topped the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa list for the first time with earnings of USD (Caprisa), which she heads. 106.3 million, rising from fifth place last year. Stefan Manegold Wins 2020 Sigmod Football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Contributions Award: Messi are second and third respectively with CWI researcher Stefan Manegold was earnings of USD 105 and USD 104 million. awarded the 2020 SIGMOD Contributions The others in the top-10 are Neymar Award. It recognizes his innovative work in (football), LeBron James (basketball), data management community to encourage Stephen Curry (basketball), Kevin Durrant scientific reproducibility. Manegold was a (basketball), Tigers Woods (golf), Kirk pioneer in encouraging reproducibility in Cousins (American football) and Carson data management Wentz (American football) . Delhi-based NGO wins WHO award: Rohit Sharma nominated for Rajiv World Health Organization (WHO) has Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: conferred the World No Tobacco Day Award BCCI has nominated Rohit Sharma for the 2020 to the Socio-Economic and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India's Educational Development Society highest sporting honour. The board has also (SEEDS), an NGO, for its efforts to ban pan nominated India fast bowler Ishant Sharma, masala, gutkha, e-cigarettes and hookah in opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and Bihar and Jharkhand. India woman all-rounder Deepti Sharma for SEEDS are among the 3 awardees from the the Arjuna Award. South East Asia region. World silver-medallist Amit Panghal and the Virat Kohli only cricketer in Forbes’ 2020 seasoned Vikas Krishan were nominated for list of world's highest paid athletes: the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award by the India Skipper Virat Kohli is the only cricketer Boxing Federation of India. to feature in Forbes' list of the top 100 BFI has nominated world bronze-winning trio highest paid athletes in the world for the of Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Simranjit

Kaur (64kg) and Manish Kaushik (63kg) for focused on strategic IT, business services, the Arjuna awards. and sourcing. Indian writer Kritika Pandey wins Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw wins EY World regional award for Asia in 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 Award: Commonwealth Short Story Prize: Biocon Ltd announced that its Executive The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has awarded for the best unpublished short been named the EY World Entrepreneur of fiction. Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and the Year 2020 (WEOY) . above are eligible for it. Mazumdar-Shaw is the First Woman Kritika Pandey, a writer from Ranchi as the entrepreneur from India and the third Indian regional winner for Asia in the 2020 to win it. She is the second woman worldwide Commonwealth Short Story Prize. to hold this title following Olivia Lum of Other winners are: Innocent Chizaram Ilo Hyflux Limited from Singapore in 2011. (Africa), Reyah Martin (Canada and Europe), Forbes highest-paid celebrities: Kylie Brian S Heap (Caribbean) and Andrea E Jenner tops, Akshay Kumar only Indian Macleod (Pacific) . on the list: UST Global Recognized as “IT Service Kylie Jenner and Kanye West topped the Provider of the Year 2020” by Everest annual Forbes list of the highest paid Group: celebrities, but sports stars, including Roger UST Global, a leading digital transformation Federer and Lionel Messi, dominated the top solutions company, announced that it has 10. been named to the list of the Everest Group’s Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar ranked PEAK Matrix Top 20 IT Service Providers 52nd with an estimated earnings of USD 48.5 of the Year 2020. million(M) & is the only indian featured on the The awards, now in their fifth year, list. recognize IT service providers who have Javed Akhtar becomes only Indian to win demonstrated consistent leadership in the prestigious Richard Dawkins award: peak matrix reports issued by Everest Lyricist Javed Akhtar becomes only Indian to Group, a consulting and research firm win prestigious Richard Dawkins award. He

is an English ethologist, evolutionary biologist Larsen, the former Australia Women & author. allrounder, was honoured "for significant The Richard Dawkins Award is bestowed upon service to cricket as a player, selector, individuals who ‘publicly proclaim the manager and coach at the elite level". values of secularism, rationalism, Astronaut Kathy Sullivan Becomes First upholding scientific truth’, since 2003. Woman to Reach deepest point of ocean: Hyderabad airport receives ACI Asia- Kathy Sullivan, America’s first female Pacific Green Airports Platinum spacewalker, also became the first woman Recognition 2020: to reach the deepest known point of the Hyderabad International Airport received ocean. the highest Platinum Recognition in the Sullivan dove to the bottom of the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia- Challenger Deep and safely returned in her Pacific Green Airports Recognition 2020 in the submersible vessel. She is now the eighth 15-35 Million Passengers Per Annum person to reach the depth, the lowest point in (MPPA) category for its efficient water the Marianas Trench, which is about management practices. 35,853 feet under the Western Pacific A statement here said on Friday that on the Ocean surface. World Environment Day, ACI Asia-Pacific Indian Entrepreneur Renjith Kumar has announced the results of the region's honoured with ‘NASA Distinguished Annual Green Airports Recognition 2020. Public Service Medal’: Cricketer Michael Clarke, Lyn Larsen Renjith Kumar has bagged the NASA’s receive Order of Australia honours: highest form of recognition for a non- Michael Clarke has been honored in the governmental individual ‘NASA Queen’s Birthday list for Australia with the Distinguished Public Service Medal’ for former cricket captain recognized for both his his service through executive leadership, sporting career and community work. engineering contribution, technical Clarke has been recognised for his excellence, and customer satisfaction. RK “distinguished service to cricket as a player at Chetty Pandipati was the First Indian to win the national and international level, through this award in 2002. leadership roles, and to the community”.

Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal Monaco Foundation Award, one of the gets 2020 World Food Prize: most coveted environmental awards in the Eminent Indian-American soil scientist world for the year 2020. Rattan Lal has been named this year's The award was announced by the Prince recipient of the World Food Prize for Albert II of Monaco Foundation Vice President developing and mainstreaming a soil-centric and CEO Olivier Wenden. approach to increasing food production that Two Indian firms ZestMoney and conserves natural resources and mitigates Stellapps in World Economic Forum List climate change. Of Tech Pioneers For 2020: Shobha Sekhar conferred with “Medal of ZestMoney and Stellapp are the two Indian the Order of Australia”: startups figure in a new list of Tech Pioneers Indian Musician & founder of Kalakruthi released by the World Economic Forum music organization in Australia, Shobha (WEF) which described these 100 entities Sekhar will be conferred the “Medal of the as future headline-makers addressing global Order of Australia”. The Montreal-based issues with cutting-edge technology. artiste and lecturerm University of Former India football captain IM Vijayan Melbourne, figures in the Queen’s Birthday recommended for Padma Shri by AIFF: 2020 Honours List. All India Football Federation (AIFF) has Ramon Magsaysay awards, Asia’s recommended legendary former skipper version of Nobel Prize awards cancelled: Inivalappil Mani Vijayan for Padma Shri, Ramon Magsaysay awards, regarded as the country's fourth highest civilian Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize, have been award. cancelled this year due to the global The 51-year-old former India striker, who pandemic, the only third time the annual scored 40 goals in 79 matches for India since awards were disrupted in six decades. making his debut in early 90s, was bestowed Hyderabad’s Deccan Development the Arjuna award in 2003. Society wins Prince Albert II of Monaco He was also awarded the Indian 'Player of Foundation Award: the Year' in 1993, 1997 and 1999. After Hyderabad-based Deccan Development retiring from football, Vijayan started his Society has won the Prince Albert II of

acting career; recently he did a Tamil movie February 2021. The Golden Globes named Bigil. ceremony, which kicks off Hollywood’s awards Nobel-laureate Indian economist season, will now take place on 28th February Amartya Sen wins 2020 Peace Prize of instead of its usual slot on the 1st Sunday in the German Book Trade: January. Oscars Awards also rescheduled on Harvard professor & Nobel-laureate April 25, 2021. Indian economist Amartya Sen has won the Nita Ambani recognised among world's prestigious Peace Prize of the German Book top philanthropists in 2020 by leading US Trade for his decades-long work on magazine Town & Country: "Questions Of Global Justice". Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Mukesh Ambani enters World Top-10 Ambani has been recognized among the richest list, as net worth jumps to $64.6 world’s top philanthropists in 2020 by bn: Town & Country magazine’s top global Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh philanthropists of 2020. She is the only Ambani vaulted into the list of the world's top Indian in the list. 10 richest, according to the Forbes Real- Folk artist Gulabbai Sangamnerkar & Time Billionaire list, with his net worth Madhuvanti Dandekar to get Lifetime rising $5.3 billion to $64.6 billion (or Rs 4.9 Achievement Award: lakh crore) . RIL has become 1st Indian Maharashtra government announced the company to be valued at $150 billion. Vithabai Narayangaokar lifetime Amazon founder Jeff Bezos tops the list achievement award to folk artist Gulabbai with a net worth of $158.9 billion, Bill Sangamnerkar. Gates is next with $109.4 billion and Sangeetacharya Annasaheb Kirloskar Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is award will be conferred upon veteran theatre fourth at $86.9 billion. actress-singer Madhuvanti Dandekar. Golden Globes 2021 Postponed Due To COVID Pandemic; Oscars, BAFTA Also Rescheduled: The Golden Globe Awards ceremony for film & television has been postponed to

RANKINGS: Institute of Chemical Technology(Rank India Drops 6 Places to be Ranked 23rd 92) . in StartupBlink's Global Startup Global top 3 Universities: Tsinghua st Ecosystems: University, China(1 ), Peking University, China(2nd), National University of India is home to the third largest startup Singapore(3rd) . ecosystem, but in a latest ranking of global India secured 168th rank in the 12th startup ecosystems by Startupblink, India edition of EPI Index: has dropped 6 places to the 23rd spot. India secured 168th rank in the 12th edition StartupBlink is a global comprehensive startup ecosystem map and research centre. of the biennial Environment Performance Bengaluru dropped three places to have the Index (EPI Index 2020) - that measured the 14th rank in the top cities with the best environmental performance of 180 countries- startups ecosystems, while Delhi climbed 3 and was released by the Yale University on June 4, 2020. India scored 27.6 out of 100. spots to 15th rank. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra top Times Higher Education Asia University in FSSAI food safety index for 2019-20: Ranking; 8 Indian institutes in top 100: Gujarat have topped an index that ranked India is the third most represented country in states ensuring food safety in 2019-20. the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia The smaller states, Goa came first followed University Ranking which launched today. While the Indian Institute of Science by Manipur and Meghalaya. Among Union (IISc) Bangalore retains its top position in Territories, Chandigarh, Delhi and Andaman the country by attaining the 36th spot Islands secured top ranks, FSSAI. globally, Eight Indian Institutes of It was announced during a webinar conducted on the occasion of “World Food Safety Day” Technology (IITs) have also been featured in on June 7, 2020 on the theme “Food Safety the top 100. is everyone’s business”. IISc Bangalore( Rank 36), IIT-Ropar(Rank Mumbai most expensive Indian city for 47), IIT-Kharagpur(Rank 59),– IIT- expats, 19th most expensive in Asia: Indore(Rank 55), IIT-Delhi(Rank 65), IIT- Bombay(Rank 69), IIT-Roorkee(Rank 83), Survey:

According to Mercer's ‘2020 Cost of Living ‘overall ranking’ category with a score of Survey’, Mumbai is the 60th most expensive 85.31 followed by Indian Institute of city for expatriates globally, while it ranks Science, Bengaluru and Indian Institute of 19th in Asia. Mumbai is followed by New Technology Delhi. Delhi (101st globally) and Chennai (143rd QS World University Rankings 2021: 3 globally), Bengaluru (171) & Kolkata (185) Indian Universities Reach Top 200 List: are the least expensive cities. QS World University Rankings is actually an The global list was topped by Hong Kong, annual publication of the university rankings followed by Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) in from all over the world by the publisher second position. Japan's Tokyo and Quacquarelli Symonds. Switzerland's Zurich remain in the third and The Three institutes are IIT’s where IIT fourth positions, Bombay is ranked at 172nd position; IISc Switzerland safest country in the world Bangalore is at 185th position while IIT on COVID-19 safety assessment; India Delhi is at the 193rd position. Top 3 ranks 56th: universities in the World ranking list is India has been ranked 56th out of 200 Massachusetts Institute of Technology countries in a comprehensive report on safety (MIT), Stanford University, Harvard and risk assessment of nations tackling University. Covid-19. Three DST institutes in top 30 in India in Switzerland is the safest country in the Nature Index 2020: world for Covid-19, followed by Germany and Indian Association for the Cultivation of Israel. South Sudan is the most dangerous Science (IACS), Kolkata (7th was ranked at 200th position. rank),Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for NIRF Ranking 2020 released, IIT Madras Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), tops the overall list: Bangalore (14th rank) and S. N. Bose HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ National Centre for Basic Sciences (30th announces the National Institutional Ranking rank) . Framework (NIRF) India Rankings 2020. These are the three autonomous institutes The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) of the Department of Science and Madras (Tamil Nadu) has topped the list of Technology that have been ranked among

the top 30 Indian institutions in the Nature 2019 scoring deals worth $51 billion, Index 2020 ratings. according to a report by the United Nations' The Nature Index 2020 ratings have been trade body, the UN Conference on Trade globally topped by Chinese Academy of and Development (UNCTAD) . Sciences (CAS), beijing. India 2nd biggest driver of global energy India ranked 43rd on IMD's World consumption in 2019: BP Statistical Competitiveness Index; Singapore on Review: top: India was second biggest growth driver of India continues to remain ranked 43rd on an primary energy consumption in the world, annual World Competitiveness Index behind China, in 2019 even though it compiled by Institute for Management witnessed fall in demand in oil and coal, Development (IMD) . according to BP Statistical Review Singapore has retained its top position on India becomes 12th largest holder of US the 63-nation list. Denmark has moved up to govt securities at April end: the 2nd position (from 8th last year), India has become the 12th largest holder Switzerland has gained one place to rank 3rd of US government securities at the end of and Venezuela is at the bottom. April, with holding worth 157.4 billion India ranked 6th as nuclear weapons dollars. The data from the US Treasury increased since 2019: Department showed that after significantly According to “SIPRI Yearbook 2020- reducing the exposure in March to 156.5 Armaments, Disarmament and billion dollars, India marginally hiked the International Security” of Swedish think holding by 0.9 billion dollars to 157.4 billion tank, Stockholm International Peace dollars the next month. Research Institute (SIPRI) India ranks 3rd largest economy in US tops in the list followed by Russia and UK Purchasing Power Parity: World Bank: India has retained its position as the 3rd- respectively. India Ranked 6th. largest economy in the world in terms of India 9th largest recipient of FDI in purchasing power parity, even as it is way 2019: UNCTAD: behind the US & China. India accounts for 6.7% ($ 8,051-b) out of the world's total of India became the world’s 9th largest $119,547 billion of GDP in terms of PPP recipient of the foreign direct investment in (Purchasing Power Parity) .

BOOKS AND AUTHORS: Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro JK Rowling unveils 'The Ickabog', a new will come out with his new novel “Klara and book for children: the Sun”. It will be published by Faber & JK Rowling announced a brand new Faber in the United Kingdom, Alfred A. Knopf in the United States and Knopf in Canada on children's book, which she is publishing in March 2, 2021. daily instalments on her website for free. The Megha Majumdar's 'A Burning' is blazing Ickabog is her 1st children's story not to be up the bestseller list and emerging as the linked to Harry Potter. Chapters of The must-read novel of the summer: Ickabog are being published daily until 10 July. A Book name titled “A Burning” Authored by Indian Author Luke Coutinho's New Book Megha Majumdar. The Penguin Hamish To Promote Benefits Of 'dry Fasting' Diet: Hamilton released the debut novel of Megha Indian author and renowned personal lifestyle Majumdar. The 32-year-old New York’s writer Megha Majumdar was born and raised in coach, Luke Coutinho's new book, "The Kolkata. Dry Fasting Miracle: From Deprive to Author Amish Tripathi launches new Thrive". Co-authored by Sheikh Abdulaziz book 'Legend of Suheldev': Bin Ali Bin Rashed Al Nuami, a member of Amish Tripathi launched his new book - a the Ajman royal family in the UAE, the book story about the adventures of the warrior king will be published under the Ebury Press imprint of Penguin Random House. Suheldev, titled, ‘Legend of Suheldev: The Dadabhai Naoroji Biography Released By King who Saved India’. Book is set in 11th Dinyar Patel: century India, when Mahmud of Ghazni The Dinyar Patel authored biography of destroyed the Somnath temple.

Dadabhai Naoroji, titled, ‘Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism’ was released in

India by Harper Collins and in the United

States and UK by Harvard University Press.

Nobel winner Kazuo Ishiguro’s new novel ‘Klara and the Sun’ out in March 2021:

OBITUARY NEWS: Stanley Ho: Hong Kong's 'king of Sri Lankan Minister Arumugan gambling' dies aged 98: Thondaman passes away: Stanley Ho, the Hong Kong tycoon credited Ceylon Workers’ Congress [CWC] leader and with turning Macau into world's gambling capital, has passed away. Ho, one of Asia's Sri Lanka Cabinet Minister Arumugam richest men, was known as the "king of Thondaman passed away at 55. Arumugam gambling". Thondaman served in President Gotabaya M P Veerendra Kumar dies at 84: Rajapaksa's government as Minister of M P Veerendra Kumar, the Managing Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development. Director of Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi and Noted Urdu writer& satirist Mujtaba a member of PTI’s Board of Directors, passed Hussain Passed away: away. Veerendra Kumar, a Rajya Sabha MP Renowned Urdu writer and satirist Mujtaba from Kerala and a former union minister. Ajit Jogi, First Chief Minister of Hussain, who had returned the Padma Shri Chhattisgarh, Dies At 74: award to the union government last year, Ajit Jogi, the former Congress leader, who passed away. Hussain was awarded the became the first Chief Minister of Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, Chhattisgarh when the state was born in in 2007 for his contribution to Urdu literature. 2000, has passed away after being Former Tamil Nadu footballer Shanmugam passes away: hospitalized for three weeks. He was a Former Tamil Nadu footballer and coach R. Veteran Indian Police Service and Indian Shanmugam passed away aged 77. He Administrative Service. attended the FIFA Coca Cola coaching Veteran lyricist Yogesh passed away at 77: course in 1978 & '91, and the Olympic Veteran lyricist Yogesh Gaur who penned solidarity course in 1996. He has coached ICF, the famous ‘Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye’ Tamil Nadu and Indian Railways for the and ‘Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli" in "Anand", Santosh trophy. passed away. He was 77. Known by his first

name in film circles, Yogesh was a prominent lyricist in ’70s Hindi cinema.

Former Olympic sprint champion Bobby American sprinter Bobby Morrow, who won Morrow dies aged 84: three gold medals at the 1956 Olympic Games American sprinter Bobby Morrow, who won in Melbourne, passed away at the age of 84. three gold medals at the 1956 Olympic Morrow won gold in the 100 and 200 meters Games in Melbourne, died on Saturday at the and anchored the U.S. to victory in the age of 84. 4x100m relay, in which they set a world He was named Sports Illustrated's record. "Sportsman of the Year" in 1956 and set Former Union Minister, Congress leader 11 ratified world records during his career. P Namgyal passes away: Wajid Khan, of composer duo Sajid- Widely respected among Buddhists in Wajid, dies at 42: Ladakh, Namgyal was also an agriculturist, Music director Wajid Khan, who made his and a social worker, besides having interest Bollywood debut in Salman’s 1998 was known in sports and music as well. He also served for his compositions for Salman Khan's the Pradesh Congress Committee in the popular movies such as 'Wanted', the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state as 'Dabangg' franchise and 'Ek Tha Tiger', secretary general and vice president. passed away at 42 due to kidney infection BJP Tamil Nadu former president KN complications. Lakshmanan passes away: Arjun Award winner and Archery coach KN Lakshmanan was appointed the party’s Jayantilal Nanoma passed away at 34: State president and held the post from 1984- A former international archer-turned-coach 89. He also held the post from 1996 to 2000. Jayantilal Nanoma died in a road mishap in In 2001, he was elected to the State Rajasthan. Nanoma has many gold and Assembly from the Mylapore constituency in silver medals to his credit in national and Chennai. international tournaments. Nanoma also won Former Pakistani cricketer Riaz Sheikh Arjun Award, Maharana Pratap Award, dies at 51: etc., Former Pakistan first-class cricketer Riaz Former Olympic sprint champion Bobby Sheikh became the second professional Morrow passes away: player in the country to die because of suspected coronavirus. A leg-spinner who

took 116 wickets in 43 first-class matches was Veteran lyricist Anwar Sagar passed away. at one time considered for national selection. He was 70. Among his notable hits is “Waada NBA Hall of Famer Wes Unseld passes Raha Sanam” in Abbas-Mustan”s 1992 away: release, “Khiladi”, starring Akshay Kumar, Wes Unseld, the burly Hall of Famer who led and “Yeh dua hai mere rab se” in the 1992 the then-Washington Bullets to the franchise’s release, “Sapne Saajan Ke”. only NBA championship, passed away. In Senior BJP leader Chandrakanta Goyal 1988 Unseld was inducted into the Naismith died in Mumbai: Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was Senior BJP leader Chandrakanta Goyal, voted a top 50 player in league history in mother of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, 1996. died at her residence in Mumbai due to old Management Guru Pritam Singh dies at age. She was 88. She represented the BJP 78: from the Matunga Assembly constituency in Management Guru and Padma Shri Mumbai for three terms. awardee, Pritam Singh passed away. He has Former governor and Delhi ex-top cop served as an independent director in several Ved Marwah dies at 87: private companies. He was also a former Former Governor of Mizoram, Manipur, and director of IIM Lucknow and MDI. He is the Jharkhand, Ved Marwah, who had also author of seven books and over 50 research served as the Delhi Police Commissioner in papers. the 1980s, died in Goa. He had also penned a Filmmaker Basu Chatterjee passes away book- ‘Uncivil Wars: Pathology of Terrorism in at 93: India’. Filmmaker-screenwriter Basu Chatterjee, Former India footballer Hamza Koya died best known for directing films like Choti Si of COVID-19 in Kerala: Baat, Rajnigandha, Baaton Baaton Mein, Ek Former Indian footballer Hamza Koya has Ruka Hua Faisla and Chameli Ki Shaadi died of COVID-19 in Kerala. He was a former among more, passed away on Thursday in football player who represented Maharashtra Mumbai, following age-related ailments. at the Santhosh Trophy & also an India team Bollywood lyricist Anwar Sagar passes member in Nehru trophy. He also played for away: Mohan Bagan & Mohammedan Sports Clubs.

Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja passes first played for Don Bosco Oratoryin the MFA away at 39: league. Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja passed Kurt Thomas, World Champion Gymnast away at 39 due to a cardiac arrest at a private and ‘Gymkata’ Star, Dies at 64: hospital in Bengaluru. He is the grandson of Kurt Thomas, the winner of the first World Kannada late actor Shakti Prasad & the Championship gold medal in the history of nephew of multilingual actor Arjun Sarja. S. gymnastics, passed away. Thomas, known Tamil Nadu lawmaker and DMK MLA J for his original and daring skills, including the Anbazhagan dies due to Covid-19: “Thomas Flair” on pommel horse, and the DMK MLA J. Anbazhagan from Chepauk “Thomas Salto” on floor exercise, won a total became the first VIP victim of coronavirus of eight world medals. from Tamil Nadu when he died at the age of Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza dies 62. A three-time MLA, Anbazhagan was of ‘cardiac arrest’ at 55: elected to the assembly in 2001, 2011 and Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza, 2016. aged 55, has died after suffering a cardiac Former Union Water Resources minister arrest. After 15 years in power, Mr Nkurunziza Arjun Charan Sethi passed away at 79: was due to step down in August. In 2015, the Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi announcement that he would run for a third passed away at the age of 79. An eight-time term plunged the country into chaos. Madhya Pradesh from Bhadrak Lok Sabha Manchester United legend Tony Dunne constituency, Sethi was the Union Water dies aged 78: Resources Minister in the Atal Bihari Tony Dunne, who was part of the Vajpayee-led NDA government from 2000 to Manchester United side who won the 2004. European Cup in 1968, has died at the age of Former TN footballer Balasamy passes 78. Red Devils from Shelbourne in 1960 and away: went on to play in 535 games, a number that Balasamy former Vice President of Chennai sees him sit eighth on the club's all-time Football Association and assistant secretary of appearances list. Madras United Club passed away. Balasamy Senior SAIL director Atul Srivastava dies of cardiac arrest:

Senior Steel Authority of India Limited official, India’s oldest first-class cricketer Vasant Atul Srivastava, has died of cardiac arrest Raiji passes away at 100: here last night, a company. Srivastava India’s oldest first-class cricketer Vasant assumed charge as Director (Personnel) of Raiji passed away at his residence in Mumbai. SAIL on March 12, 2018. The right-handed batsman played nine first- Writer Jas Waters passes away at 39: class matches for Mumbai and Baroda in the Jas Waters, who wrote for shows like This is 1940s, scoring 277 runs with 68 being his Us and Kidding, has passed away. Waters was highest score in his decade-long career. a credited writer on the 2019 film What Men Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput Want, Showtime’s Kidding and Comedy passes away at 34: Central’s Hood Adjacent with James Davis, as Noted Bollywood actor Sushant Singh well as This Is Us in 2017 and 2018. Rajput committed suicide. The actor was 34 Former Planning Commission Member years old. Sushant made his film debut in the Vaidyanathan Passed away at 88: buddy drama Kai Po Che! in 2013, for which Vaidyanathan was a professor at the he received a nomination for the Filmfare Madras Institute of Development Studies Award for Best Male Debut. and Centre for Development Studies, Former New Zealand cricketer Matt Thiruvananthapuram. He had chaired the Poore passed away at 90: Government of India Task Force on Former New Zealand cricketer Matt Poore Revival of Cooperative Credit Institutions has passed away. Poore featured in 14 Tests (2004) and was a member of the K N Raj for the Black Caps, scoring 355 runs and Committee on Taxation of Agricultural picking up nine wickets between 1953 and Income (1969-70) . 1956. He also played 61 Tests for Canterbury Veteran Urdu poet Gulzar Dehlvi passes and scored 2,336 runs and ended up with 68 away at 93: wickets. Veteran Urdu poet Anand Mohan Zutshi Former Lok Sabha MP and Banker ‘Gulzar’ Dehlvi passed away . He was 93. He Madhavrao Patil passes away at 80: was the freedom fighter and a premier Former Lok Sabha MP and founder of ‘inquilabi’ poet. Janalaxmi Cooperative Bank Madhavrao Patil died. Patil had won from Nashik Lok

Sabha constituency on a Congress ticket in Former Kerala volleyball captain 1998. Danikutty David passes away: Former Bangladesh Minister Mohammad Former Kerala volleyball captain Danikutty Nasim passes away at 72: David passed away at the age of 60. Former Bangladesh Minister and Awami Danikutty represented Kerala in 11 National League Presidium member Mohammad Championships between 1981-1993. The Nasim passed away in Dhaka. Kerala team captained by him bagged the Lyricist and painter Padmaja bronze medal in the National Championships Radhakrishnan passes away: in 1985-86. Lyricist and painter Padmaja Tamil Nadu CM’s private secretary Radhakrishnan (68), wife of the late music Damodharan passes away due to Covid- director MG Radhakrishnan passed away. 19: Besides penning lyrics for a 2013 Malayalam A Senior official B J Damodharan passed movie ‘Mr Bean’, she had also written a away due to Covid-19. Damodharan was number of songs which were composed by her working as Private Secretary in CM husband. Palaniswamy’s office. 1971 war hero and Maha Vir Chakra Malayalam Director K R Sachidanandan awardee Lt Gen Raj Mohan Vohra passed Passes Away: away at 88 due to COVID-19: Film director, script writer & producer K R Lieutenant General (retd) Raj Mohan Vohra Sachidanandan popularly known as Sachy, who was a 1971 war hero and a Maha Vir died. He passed away after suffering a cardiac Chakra awardee, has died due to COVID-19. arrest. He was on ventilator sport. He gave a He was born in 1932 in Shimla. recent hit movie named Ayyappanum Former Goa minister Achyut Usgaonkar Koshiyum which starred Prithviraj-Biju dies at 92: Menon. Former Goa Minister and Daman & Diu Veteran economist B.P.R. Vithal passes Cabinet Minister Achyut Kashinath Sinai away at 93: Usgaonkar, passed away at 92 in the Goa Veteran economist & member of the 10th Medical College and Hospital (located near Finance Commission, IAS B.P.R. Vithal Panaji) due to age-related ailments. Baru passed away at 93 in Hyderabad. He

was Secretary, Finance and Planning, facilitate the cultural exchange among city government of Andhra Pradesh, from 1972 residents. to 1982 and Deputy Chairman, State Planning Iraqi football legend Ahmad Radhi Board, and Member, Tenth Finance passes away after battling COVID-19: Commission. Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi has Veteran Journalist & Freedom Fighter passed away after diagnosed with COVID-19. Dinu Ranadive passed away at 95: Radhi, a striker, led Iraq to victory in the Gulf Veteran journalist and freedom fighter Cups of 1984 and 1988, when he was voted Dinu Ranadive passed away at 95 in his Asian footballer of the year. residency in Dadar, Maharashtra due to a Legendary Indian left-arm spinner short illness. He was born in 1925 in Dahanu Rajinder Goel passes away at 77: tehsil of adjoining Palghar district, India’s finest left-arm spinners, Rajinder Maharashtra. Goel passed away aged 77 after battling Veteran South Singer-Actor AL Raghavan long-term illness. In 2017, the Board of Passes Away at 80 in Chennai: Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Noted playback singer A.L. Raghavan honoured Rajinder Goel with the CK Nayudu passed away. Born in Thanjavur to Lifetime Achievement Award. Lakshmana Bhagavathar, Raghavan entered Former international kabaddi player the film world as a child artiste in the film Ilaiah passes away at 65: Krishna Vijayam. His song ‘Engirunthalum M Ilaiah Yadav, a former international Vaazhga’ has found a lasting place in many kabaddi player and captain of the state hearts. team, breathed his last after battling it hard. Padma Shri awardee Vidyaben Shah Ilaiah, who was undergoing treatment at the passes away at 97: Yashoda Hospital in Malakpet for lung Padma Shri awardee and a social worker infection, was 65 years old. Vidyaben Shah passed away recently. She Veteran Kerala singer and actor was a pioneer in the field of child welfare as Pappukutty Bhagavathar dies at 107: she created the the first Bal Bhavan in Rajkot Veteran Kerala theatre artist, actor and singer in the 1940s. She also set up the Mahatma Pappukutty Bhagavathar passed away in Gandhi Sanskritik Kendra in the 1970s to

Kochi at the age of 107. The veteran artist SPORTS NEWS: had acted in over 25 Malayalam movies. FIFA and WHO launch campaign to help Former India shooter Pournima Zanane domestic violence victims amid passes away at 42: coronavirus lockdown: Former Indian Air Rifle Shooter Pournima FIFA and World Health Organization Zanane, an International Shooting Sport (WHO) and the European Commission have Federation (ISSF) -licensed coach who announced the #SafeHome campaign suffered from cancer for the past 2 years designed to support women and children at passed away at the age of 42 in Pune, risk of domestic violence during the Maharashtra. She was born in Nanded, coronavirus pandemic. Maharashtra. Sri Lanka suspends fast bowler Shehan Veteran Journalist And Former MP Madushanka: Vishwa Mohan Gupta Passes Away at 93: Sri Lanka fast bowler Shehan Madushanka Former MP and veteran journalist Vishwa has been suspended from all forms of cricket Bandhu Gupta died. He was associated with with immediate effect after he was arrested the Congress party during the 1980s and he for alleged possession of illegal drugs (heroin) was a Member of Parliament from April 1984 . to 1990, representing the state of Delhi in the Long-distance runner Kiranjeet Kaur Rajya Sabha. banned for 4 years by World Athletics’ Hollywood Director Joel Schumacher anti-doping body: passed away: Long – Distance runner Kiranjeet Kaur, who Costume designer cum Film Director Joel won the tata Steel Kolkata 25K among the Schumacher who suffered from cancer for Indians last year, has been handed a four- the past one year passed away at the age of year ban by World Athletics’ anti-doping body 80 in New York, United States of (WADA) for returning positive for a banned America(USA) . He was born on August 29, substance in a test conducted in Doha. 1939 in New York, USA. SAI to launch Khelo India e-Pathshala,

an online coaching programme for grassroot level:

Sports Authority of India (SAI) is all set to game record, following the termination of the launch Khelo India e-Pathshala in 2019/20 season last month. association with National Sports The Blues were in second place but with one Federations (NSF) with an aim to provide game in hand over Manchester City who first-ever national-level open online coaching was a point ahead when it was decided the and education programme for grassroot- league is to finish prematurely due to the level athletes. COVID-19 pandemic. India to host AFC Women's Asian Cup in India’s 800m runner Gomathi handed 2022: four-year ban for doping, to lose Asian Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has Championships gold: granted All India Football Federation (AIFF) India’s Gomathi Marimuthu will be stripped the rights to host the AFC Women`s Asian off her 2019 Asian Athletics Cup 2022 final. Championships gold medal after she was India will host the premier tournament for the handed a four-year ban by the Athletics second time after staging it in Kozhikode in Integrity Unit for testing positive for a 1980. banned substance. She is from Tamil Nadu. World Archery Field Championships AIU Suspended Salwa Eid Naser Missed postponed to 2022: Four Tests as World 400m Champion: 2020 World Archery Field Championships Nigerian-born Bahraini runner Salwa Eid in Yankton, USA, have been postponed until Naser, who ran the third-fastest 400m in 2022 which was due to take place in history when winning gold at last year’s world September this year at the NFAA Easton championships in Doha, is facing a two-year Yankton Archery Centre, the world’s largest ban after being provisionally suspended for dedicated archery facility. missing three drug tests in a 12-month Chelsea women awarded WSL title, period. Aston Villa win Women’s Championship: The suspension was by the Athletics Chelsea FC Women were named the Integrity Unit, Naser had been issued with a Women’s Super League champions charge for violating World Anti-Doping overtaking Manchester City on a points-per- Agency rules.

Former European High Jump Champion Belgium on Top, India Remain at 108 in Alexander Shustov Cops Doping Ban: Latest FIFA Rankings: Former European high jump champion India has maintained their 108th spot in the Alexander Shustov has been banned for 4 latest FIFA world rankings revealed for the years for doping in the latest case from month of June. Belgium remains at the previous years to hit the Russian team, the summit ahead of France and Brazil, who Court of Arbitration for Sport said. He won complete the podium, while England and the gold medal at the European Uruguay continue to fourth and fifth championships- 2010. respectively. Former world champion boxer Oleksandr Fourth edition of Asian Youth Para Gvozdyk retires: Games to be held in Bahrain in December 33-year-old Ukrainian lightweight boxing 2021: champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk also known Asian Paralympics Committee (APC) as “The Nail” announced his retirement. He announced that Bahrain will host the fourth was born on 15th April 1987 in Kharkiv, edition of the Asian Youth Para Games from Ukraine. December 1 to 10 next year. Gvozdyk won the WBC title in December An estimated 800 athletes under 20 years of 2018 when he knocked out Adonis Stevenson, age are expected to compete in nine sports who had held the belt for five years. including athletics, badminton, India Commonwealth Games gold powerlifting, swimming and table tennis. champion lifter Sanjita Chanu cleared of Bayern Munich clinched their eighth doping charges: straight Bundesliga title: International Weightlifting Federation Bayern Munich secured its eighth (IWF) has cleared India’s K Sanjita Chanu of successive German Bundesliga title with anti-doping violation over charges brought up two games to spare after beating Werder in November 2017 citing “non Bremen 1-0 with a goal from Robert conformities” in the handling of her sample. Lewandowski. Chanu is a two-time Commonwealth Games Napoli beat Juventus 4-2 on penalties to gold medallist—at Glasgow in 2014 (48kg) win sixth Italian Cup: and in Gold Coast in 2018 (53kg) .

Napoli stunned Juventus 4-2 on penalties WWE announces The Undertaker’s after a 0-0 draw to claim the Coppa Italia retirement: and bring their fiery coach Gennaro Gattuso Veteran wrestler The Undertaker allegedly the first major trophy of his managerial has announced his retirement from the World career. Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and this Azerbaijan’s Shakhriyar Mamedyarov time it seems legit. The Undertaker's Real wins World Stars Sharjah Online Chess Name is Mark "William" Calaway. Championship 2020: World Karate Federation provisionally World Stars Sharjah Online Chess de-recognises Karate Association of Championship 2020 was organized by the India: Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, on June World Karate Federation (WKF) has 12-13, 2020. provisionally de-recognized the Karate Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan beat Association of India with immediate effect India’s Pentala Harikrishna with a score of for infighting and violating the world body's 7.5 in 10 rounds. statutes during its elections last year. India Attend 32nd Virtual EAG Plenary New Zealand’s Rachel Priest Announces Meeting 2020 Chaired by EAG Chairman Retirement from International Cricket: Mr. Yury Chikhanchin: New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Rachel Indian officials, including representatives Priest has announced her retirement from from enforcement agencies, have participated international cricket. Priest played 87 ODIs in the 32nd special Eurasian Group on and 75 T20Is for New Zealand, scoring 1694 Combating Money Laundering and Financing and 873 runs respectively. of Terrorism (EAG) plenary meeting 2020, under the aegis of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) .

IMPORTANT DAYS:

DATE IMPORTANT DAY THEME

June 1 World Milk Day “20th Anniversary of World Milk Day” June 1 Global Day for Parents “Appreciate all parents throughout the world” June 3 World Bicycle Day “The uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of Bicycles” June 5 World Environment Day “Celebrating biodiversity” June 5 World Day Against Speciesism - June 6 International Day of Innocent Children - Victims of Aggression June 7 World Food Safety Day "Food safety, everyone’s business" June 8 World Ocean Day “Innovation for a sustainable ocean” June 8 World Brain Tumor Day - June 9 World Accreditation Day “Accreditation: Improving food safety” June 12 World Day Against Child Labour ”COVID-19: Protect Children from Child Labour, now more than ever” June 13 International Albinism Awareness Day “Made to Shine” June 14 World Blood Donor Day Theme: “Safe blood saves lives” Slogan: ‘Give blood & make the world a healthier place’ June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day “Building Strong Supports for Elders” June 15 World Wind Day - June 16 International Day of Family Remittances “Remittances are a lifeline” June 17 World Day to Combat Desertification & “Food. Feed. Fibre” Drought June 18 International Picnic Day -

June 18 Autistic Pride Day - June 19 International Day for the Elimination of - Sexual Violence in Conflict June 19 World Sickle Cell Day - June 19 National Reading Day June 20 World Refugee Day “Every Action Counts” June 21 World Hydrography Day “Hydrography – enabling autonomous technologies” June 21 International Yoga Day “Yoga for Health - Yoga at Home” June 21 International Day of the Celebration of - the Solstice June 21 International Father’s Day (Third Sunday - Of June) June 21 World Music Day - June 22 World Rainforest Day - June 23 United Nations Public Service Day - June 23 International Olympic Day - June 23 International Widow’s Day “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Rights” June 26 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking "Better Knowledge for Better Care." June 26 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture - June 30 World Asteroid Day -

ENGLISH VOCABULARY:

Q.1) Introvert (noun) : Antonyms: allow, assist, encourage Meaning: a shy, reticent person. Usage: To close the path means to inhibit the Synonyms: brooder, egoist, egotist, loner idea which demands such action. Antonyms: extrovert Q.5) Ambivert (noun) : Usage: The Major Maintainer hadn’t merely Meaning: a person who has a balance of been switched to Introvert. extrovert and introvert features in their Q.2) Altruist (noun) : personality. Meaning: a person unselfishly concerned for Synonyms: schizoid, phlegmatic, or devoted to the welfare of others melancholic, choleric Synonyms: charitable, humanitarian, Usage: John is an ambivert that likes to go magnanimous, philanthropic to parties but also enjoys having his alone Antonyms: stingy, uncharitable, selfish time. Usage: It was altruistic he knew, gentle he Q.6) Cynical (adjective) : was sure, educational he was positive. Meaning: believing that people are Q.3) Futile (adjective) : motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful Meaning: incapable of producing any useful of human sincerity or integrity. result; pointless. Synonyms: contemptuous, derisive, ironic, Synonyms: insufficient, trivial, misanthropic unproductive, unprofitable Antonyms: believing, hopeful, optimistic Antonyms: effective, fruitful, helpful, Usage: Armorer spoke with suave politeness, productive but there was a cynical gleam in his eye. Usage: The effort to make them “disgorge” is Q.7) Mortal (adjective) : as continual as it is noisy, and, as a rule, Meaning: causing or liable to cause death; futile. fatal. Q.4) Inhibit (verb) : Synonyms: dire, fatal, grievous, grim Meaning: hinder, restrain, or prevent (an Antonyms: good, harmless, life-giving action or process) . Synonyms: prohibit, restrain, stymie

Usage: They were fabled as seven sisters, Antonyms: rich, wealthy, happy and one lost her place in the sky by marrying Usage: In the first place, she was a poor, a mortal. downtrodden woman; in the second, she was Q.8) Misogamist (noun) : their broker. Meaning: a person who hates marriage Q.12) Epidemic (noun) : Synonyms: discrimination, prejudice, Meaning: a widespread occurrence of an chauvinism infectious disease in a community at a Antonyms: misandry, philogyny particular time. Usage: When he and I dwelt there together, Synonyms: contagious, endemic, infectious the pavilion had been a temple of misogyny. Antonyms: limited Q.9) Ascetic (adjective) : Usage: Then, too, when our artist friend was Meaning: characterized by severe self- with us we were in the grasp of an epidemic discipline and abstention from all forms of of cholera. indulgence, typically for religious reasons. Q.13) Troop (noun) : Synonyms: austere, disciplined, abstinent, Meaning: soldiers or armed forces. spartan Synonyms: army, contingent, crew, Usage: Saint and sinner, ascetic and delegation worldling, united in its practice. Antonyms: individual, one Q.10) Austerity (noun) : Usage: Gen. Marion had rallied a troop there, Meaning: sternness or severity of manner or and checked the pursuit. attitude. Q.14) Dominion (noun) : Synonyms: rigor, acerbity, asperity, Meaning: sovereignty or control. astringence Synonyms: bailiwick, command, commission Antonyms: informality, kindness, mildness Antonyms: submission, subordination Usage: Sunday comes, and brings with it a Usage: John had been under her dominion, day of general gloom and austerity. and proceeded to persuade her. Q.11) Downtrodden (adjective) : Q.15) Opacity (noun) : Meaning: oppressed or treated badly by Meaning: the quality of lacking transparency people in power. or translucence. Synonyms: distressed, exploited, needy Synonyms: darkness, murkiness, obscurity

Usage: The cause of this opacity is generally Usage: He was only misled by his love of quick boiling while the meat is in. antithesis into a hasty and illogical remark. Q.16) Isolation (noun) : Q.20) Pandemic (adjective) : Meaning: the process or fact of isolating or Meaning: (of a disease) prevalent over a being isolated. whole country or the world. Synonyms: confine, detach, disconnect Synonyms: broad, catholic, common Antonyms: attach, combine, connect Antonyms: abnormal, exclusive, Usage: Like Hermione, he wished to isolate extraordinary Vere, to preserve her as she was in character. Usage: Uranian Aphrodite was distinguished Q.17) Finality (noun) : from her Pandemic sister by chastened lust- Meaning: the fact or impression of being final repelling loveliness. and irreversible. Q.21) CANON (noun) : Synonyms: certitude, completeness, Meaning: a general law or criterion by which decisiveness something is judged. Antonyms: fraction, incompleteness Synonyms: principle, rule, tenet, standard. Usage: “The stolen goods were found in her Antonyms: yang, yin, standstill locker,” Gilder declared in a tone of finality. Usage: All they have is administrative fiat Q.18) Revamp (verb) : which fails any of the canons of the rule of Meaning: give new and improved form, law. structure, or appearance to. Q.22) WOO (verb) : Synonyms: clean, overhaul, refurbish Meaning: seek the favor, support, or custom Antonyms: break, damage, destroy of. Usage: She would learn how to keep her own Synonyms: chase, pursue, ingratiate, bank-account and revamp her arithmetic. Antonyms: deter, affront, repulse, reject. Q.19) Antithesis (noun) : Usage: Political parties have roped in Meaning: a person or thing that is the direct Bollywood stars only to woo the young. opposite of someone or something else. Q.23) TRAMMEL (Noun) : Synonyms: antipode, contra, contradictory Meaning: restrictions or impediments to Antonyms: same, similarity freedom of action.

Synonyms: restraint, constraint, curb, Usage: During Dean’s sojourn in Paris, he check, impediment, spent two weeks visiting all of the city’s Antonyms: help, assistance cultural attractions. Usage: Protesters refused to let anyone Q.27) BRACE (verb) : trammel their first amendment rights and Meaning: prepare (someone) for something pushed for freedom and equality for all. difficult or unpleasant. Q.24) ENTUROUS(Adjective) : Synonyms: nerve, gird, strengthen, fortify. Meaning: tending to take risks or daring Antonyms: dampen, deaden, drain, experiences debilitate. Synonyms: adventurous, daring Usage: Along with most of my neighbors in Antonyms: bore, timid, cowardly the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, I Usage: A venturous daredevil, Emily loved was braced for the presidential transition. doing thrill-seeking activities on vacation DEBASE including swimming with sharks. Q.28) (Verb) : Q.25) STAID (ADJECTIVE) : Meaning: reduce (something) in quality or Meaning: marked by settled sedateness and value; degrade. often prim self-restraint Synonyms: degrade, demean, disgrace, Synonyms: dignified, composed, earnest, undermine grave, humorless, no-nonsense Antonyms: enhance Antonyms: indecorous, frivolous, hilarious Usage: The politician tried to debase his Example: She was given a staid title-‘The Iron rival’s good reputation by spreading false Lady’. rumors about him. Usage: Over the last few years he has taken Q.29) IMPLICITLY (adverb) : the staid world of opera by storm. Meaning: in a way that is not directly Q.26) SOJOURN (noun) : expressed; tacitly. Meaning: a temporary stay at one place, esp. Synonyms: absolutely, totally, utterly, while traveling. unconditionally. Synonyms: stay, tarry, visit, stopover. Antonyms: bluntly, explicitly, openly, Antonyms: journey, migration, departure, clearly. advance.

Usage: She implicitly suggested that he was Usage: When playing poker, don’t let your responsible for the error. demeanor give away how good your cards Q.30) DOWNRIGHT (adjective) : are. Meaning: (of something bad or unpleasant) Q.34) BEACON (noun) : utter; complete (used for emphasis) . Meaning: a light or other visible object Synonyms: total, absolute, thorough, serving as a signal, warning, or guide at sea, perfect, sheer. on an airfield, etc. Antonyms: inadequate, incomplete, Synonym: bonfire, smoke insufficient, unfinished. Antonym: blacken, darken Usage: It was downright bad marking that Usage: There stands on the shore the allowed Dermot Shields head past Larkin from familiar beacon of the Cloch. six yards for the lead goal. Q.35) SURREPTITIOUSLY (adverb) : Q.31) ATTUNE (Verb) : Meaning: in a way that attempts to avoid Meaning: Bring into accord, harmony, or notice or attention; secretively. sympathetic relationship Synonym: restricted, hidden Synonym: adapt, acclimatize Antonym: open, overt Antonym: disharmonize Usage: He made a surreptitious recording Usage: A new parent has to attune to a with a concealed hand-held machine baby’s schedule and personality. Q.36) SHOEED (verb) : Q.32) IRREFUTABLE (Adjective) : Meaning: make (a person or animal) go Meaning: Impossible to disapprove or deny. away by waving one’s arms at them, saying Synonym: unquestionable, incontrovertible, ‘shoo’, or otherwise acting in a discouraging Antonym: unreliable manner. Usage: I had to admit her argument had an Synonym: scram, begone irrefutable logic to it. Antonym: attack, arrive Q.33) DEMEANOR (Noun) : Usage: Martha shooed me away. Meaning: Behavior towards others. Q.37) DEMEAN (verb) : Synonym: attitude, appearance Meaning: cause a severe loss in the dignity Antonym: Propriety, proper of and respect for (someone or something) .

Synonyms: degrading, humiliating, Usage: I got angry when my mother would inglorious, abject extol my brother’s accomplishments and Antonyms: admire, elevate, honor, laud ignore all the good things I did. Usage: We should not demean any Q.42) DYNAMISM (noun) : profession. Meaning: the fact of two or more events or Q.38) RELENT (verb) : circumstances happening or existing at the Meaning: to cease resistance (as to same time. another’s arguments, demands, or control) . Synonym: beans, bounce, brio, dash, drive, Synonyms: concede, give in, submit, energy, Esprit succumb. Antonym: lethargy, listlessness, Antonyms: combat, confront, counter, defy. sluggishness, torpidity Usage: Because my mother is very angry, Usage: Voters were attracted to the young she won’t relent on my severe punishment. challenger’s dynamism, charisma, and Q.39) PROFANE (adjective) : progressive ideas. Meaning: vulgar and inappropriate Q.43) EERILY (adverb) : Synonyms: coarse, nasty Meaning: in a strange and frightening Antonyms: kind, polite manner. Q.40) REVERE (verb) : Synonyms: hauntingly, creepily, scarily, Meaning: feel deep respect or admiration for spookily. (something) Antonyms: dulcetly, pleasingly, pleasantly, Synonyms: respect, admire, cherish, agreeably. appreciate. Usage: In front of him stood a masked man Antonyms: blaspheme, desecrate, profane, clutching a knife in one hand, grinning eerily violate. at him. Usage: If you want to achieve any goal, Q.44) VALIANT (Adjective) : revere the process & success will follow. Meaning: possessing or showing courage or Q.41) EXTOL (Verb) : determination. Meaning: praise enthusiastically. Synonyms: brave, fearless, courageous, Synonyms: eulogize, acclaim valorous Antonyms: criticize Antonyms: cowardly, irresolute

Usage: Firemen are valiant individuals who Meaning: to spend extravagantly or put their lives on the line to save others. ostentatiously. Q.45) HEDGE (Verb) : Synonyms: squander, fling, dissipate, Meaning: limit or qualify (something) by disburse. conditions or exceptions. Antonyms: accumulate, hoard, conserve, Synonyms: confine, restrict, limit, hinder, preserve obstruct, Usage: I feel like splurging on a new dress. Antonyms: absolute, certainty Q.49) REFRACTORY (adjective) : Example: She was hedged in by her imperfect Meaning: stubborn or unmanageable. education. Synonyms: recalcitrant, obstreperous, Q.46) HARK (verb) : insubordinate, intractable. Meaning: to pay attention especially through Antonyms: obedient, manageable, the act of hearing amenable, compliant. Synonym: attend, harken, hear, hearken, Usage: Most teenagers go through a heed, listen, mind refractory phase where they don’t want to Antonym: ignore, tune out listen to authority figures. Usage: Upon hearing the offending ringing, Q.50) BEDECK (verb) : the teacher sarcastically cried, “Hark! Could Meaning: to decorate or cover. that possibly be a cell phone?” Synonyms: adorn, bedizen, embellish, Q.47) ENFEEBLEMENT (Noun) : emblaze. Meaning: a gradual sinking and wasting Antonyms: denude, blemish, deface, away of mind or body disfigure. Synonym: decaying, declension, decline, Usage: The cars were all bedecked with degeneration, descent, deterioration flowers for the wedding ceremony. Antonym: comeback, improvement, rally, Q.51) Precarious (adjective) : recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation Meaning: dependent on chance; uncertain. Usage: Daily exercise can help to halt some Synonyms: unsure, unpredictable, doubtful, of the enfeeblement that comes with dubious. advanced years. Antonyms: certain, stable, confirmed, Q.48) SPLURGE (verb) : definite.

Usage: As Finance Secretary I found that the Q.56) Mellow (adjective) : finances of the state were in a precarious Meaning: (especially of a sound, flavor, or condition. color) pleasantly smooth or soft; free from Q.52) ENVIRON (verb) : harshness. Meaning: surround; enclose. Synonyms: dulcet, euphonious, melodious, Synonyms: encircle, envelop, cloak, swathe. mellifluous, mellifluent. Antonyms: unbridle, free, open, release. Antonyms: rugged, abrading, gruff, Usage: The stone circle was environed by an abrasive, harsh. expanse of peat soil. Usage: His mellow voice and his qualitative Q.53) CONFOUND(Verb) : speech made everyone applaud him Meaning: to mix up or confuse Q.57) Jeer (noun) : Synonyms: confuse, puzzle Meaning: a rude and mocking remark. Antonyms: confirm, verify Synonyms: hoot, ridicule, scuff, taunt Usage: Without instructions, this unusual Antonyms: compliment, praise, flatter game will confound anyone. Usage: Virat Kohli asked the crowd not to Q.54) DESPOTIC (Adjective) : jeer Steve Smith Meaning: of or typical of a despot; Q.58) Indigenous (adjective) : tyrannical. Meaning: originating or occurring naturally Synonyms: autocratic, dictatorial, in a particular place; native. totalitarian, authoritarian, Synonyms: native, innate, inborn, primitive, Antonyms: democratic, accountable congenital Usage: Under orders from the despotic ruler, Antonyms: alien, foreign citizens were denied freedom of speech. Usage: They were our indigenous peoples, Q.55) GRISLY (Adjective) : our first peoples, our first speakers, and our Meaning: causing horror or disgust. first hearers. Synonyms: gruesome, ghastly, frightful, Q.59) Intimidate (verb) : horrid, Meaning: frighten or overawe (someone), Antonyms: pleasant, attractive especially in order to make them do what one Usage: Many massacres in history fade while wants. some linger as grisly curiosities. Synonyms: dishearten, dismay, terrify

Antonyms: please, praise Meaning: surround and have or hold within. Usage: Her boss intimidates her Synonym: surround, enclose, ring Q.60) Torrid (Adjective) : Antonym: Exclude, leave Meaning: Very hot and dry Usage: The training will encompass how to Synonym: hot, sweltering, administer first aid and CPR. Antonym: Cold, cool, wet Q.65) Drought (Noun) : Usage: the equator into the south torrid Meaning: a prolonged period of abnormally zone. low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. Q.61) EMANCIPATE(Verb) : Synonym: dry spell, dry period, Meaning: to give people social or political Antonym: abundance, adequacy, freedom and rights Usage: Heat and drought had continued for Synonyms: liberate, loosen more than three weeks. Antonyms: detain, hold Q.66) FERVOUR (Noun) : Usage: It neither made him be human to his Meaning: great warmth and earnestness of slaves nor to emancipate them. feeling Q.62) Desalination (Noun) : Synonym: ardor, passion, zeal. Meaning: the process of removing salt from Antonym: impassiveness, impassivity, seawater. insensibility, insensibleness Synonym: Chemical change, chemical action Usage: Surprised by the fervor that her Antonym: Salinate, stay parents’ old love letters contained when she Usage: Desalination capacity, increasing discovered them in the attic. electrical generation, and distribution. Q.67) EVANGELIZE (noun) : Q.63) Vague (Adjective) : Meaning: to try to convert (a group or area) Meaning: of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear to a different religion (especially Christianity) character or Meaning. . Synonym: indistinct, indefinite Synonym: lecture, platitudinize, preach, Antonym: clear, certain preachify, sermonize Usage: She rolled her eyes at the vague Antonym: deconvert, dissuade, endure, response. hold, idle, keep Q.64) Encompassing (Verb) :

Usage: The missionaries set out to Usage: The fresh air and sunshine evangelize the world. invigorated the children after a long winter Q.68) INCHOATE (adjective) : indoors. Meaning: just begun and so not fully formed Q.72) STIRRING (adjective) : or developed; rudimentary. Meaning: causing excitement or strong Synonyms: budding, inceptive, incipient, emotion; rousing. nascent. Synonym: exciting, thrilling Antonyms: developed, full-fledged, evolved, Antonym: boring, pedestrian ripened. Usage: Rhyn looked up, anger stirring again. Usage: Having just come into existence a few Q.73) HARNESSED (verb) : years ago, the new political party is Meaning: put a harness on (a horse or other considered inchoate by many historians. draught animal) . Q.69) IDOLIZE(verb) : Synonym: saddle, yoke Meaning: to adore, admire, or love greatly Antonym: unhitch Synonyms: admire, acknowledge Usage: The team was harnessed and ready Antonyms: dislike, disrespect to go. Usage: She wanted someone to idolize her Q.74) SUBTLER: (adjective) : for her strong work ethic. Meaning: clever at attaining one’s ends by Q.70) DENUDE (Verb) : indirect and often deceptive means Meaning: strip (something) of its covering, Synonyms: artful, beguiling, cagey, crafty, possessions, or assets. cunning, cute, designing, devious, foxy, Synonyms: divest, deprive, bare, uncover guileful, scheming, shrewd, slick, sly, tricky, Antonyms: cover wily Usage: He proceeded to denude the statue, Antonyms: artless, guileless, ingenuous, fronting the church bishop’s podium. innocent Q.71) INVIGORATE (Verb) : Usage: There have been many subtler, more Meaning: to give life, vigor, or spirit to original and more systematic thinkers about Synonym: amp (up), animate, brace, the conditions of the social union. energize, enliven, fillip, fire Q.75) STULTIFY (verb) : Antonym: damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill

Meaning: cause to lose enthusiasm and Meaning: indulge in enjoyable recollection of initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or past events. restrictive routine. Synonyms: recall, remind Synonyms: hamper, impede, obstruct, Antonyms: disregard, ignore thwart, suppress, smother, repress, Usage: As soon as the veterans get together, counteract, trammel, restrain. they reminisce about their service days. Antonyms: consolidate, augment, glorify, Q.79) AMBIVALENT (adjective) : exacerbate, exalt, stir, elevate, accentuate, Meaning: having mixed feelings or strengthen. contradictory ideas about something or Usage: By referencing actual statistics, he someone. was able to stultify his opponent’s argument. Synonym: equivocal, uncertain Q.76) PROFFER: (verb) : Antonym: unequivocal, certain Meaning: to put before another for Usage: Frank was ambivalent about his acceptance or consideration breakup with Jane. Synonyms: extend, offer, tender, propose, Q.80) LANGUID (adjective) : give in, submit. Meaning: (of a person, manner, or gesture) Antonyms: decline, deny, disallow, having or showing a disinclination for physical disapprove, negative, reject. exertion or effort. Usage: It is the ultimate manifestation of the Synonym: relaxed, unhurried marketplace of ideas; the more people who Antonym: energetic, active proffer their ideas to the world, the better the Usage: The heat makes Helen languid and outcome will be for us all. quiet. Q.77) SCEPTICAL (Adjective) : Q.81) CULMINATION (noun) : Meaning: not easily convinced; having Meaning: the highest or climactic point of doubts or reservations. something, especially as attained after a long Synonyms: dubious, doubtful, unconvinced time. Antonyms: certain, convinced, optimistic Synonym: climax, pinnacle, peak. Usage: it’s good to be skeptical about what Antonym: nadir, base, bottom. you see on TV. Q.78) REMINISCE (Verb) :

Usage: Their arrest was the culmination of an Synonyms: pause, break, interval, operation in which 120 other people were interruption, suspension detained. Antonyms: closure, juncture, misfortune Q.82) EVANGELIZE (noun) : Usage: The professor will take his family on Meaning: to try to convert (a group or area) a long vacation during his hiatus. to a different religion. Q.86) REMINISCE (Verb) : Synonym: lecture, platitudinize, preach, Meaning: indulge in enjoyable recollection of preachify, sermonize past events. Antonym: deconvert, dissuade, endure, Synonyms: recall, remind hold, idle, keep Antonyms: disregard, ignore Usage: The missionaries set out to Usage: As soon as the veterans get together, evangelize the world. they reminisce about their service days. Q.83) ABDICATE (Verb) : Q.87) DEBASE (Verb) : Meaning: (of a monarch) renounce one’s Meaning: reduce (something) in quality or throne. value; degrade. Synonyms: resign, retire Synonyms: degrade, demean, disgrace, Antonyms: keep, come, continue undermine Usage: Because the mother chose to Antonyms: enhance abdicate her role as a parent, her children Usage: The politician tried to debase his have become the terrors of the neighborhood rival’s good reputation by spreading false Q.84) INFAMOUS (adjective) : rumors about him. Meaning: having a negative reputation Q.88) DETERRENT(noun) : Synonyms: hateful, vile Meaning: a thing that discourages or is Antonyms: gentle, good intended to discourage someone from doing Usage: The singer is infamous for his loud something. costumes. Synonyms: disincentive, discouragement Q.85) HIATUS (Noun) : Antonyms: incentive, encouragement Meaning: a pause or break in continuity in a Usage: The nuclear deterrent has maintained sequence or activity. an uneasy peace. Q.89) ENVIRON (verb) :

Meaning: surround; enclose. Q.93) Substantive (adjective) ; Synonyms: encircle, envelop, wrap, swathe. Meaning: having a firm basis in reality and Usage: The stone circle was environed by an so important, Meaningful, or considerable. expanse of peat soil. Synonym: biggish, considerable Q.90) SALIENCE (Noun) : Antonym: inconsequential, inconsiderable Meaning: the quality of being particularly Usage: The State Department reported that noticeable or important; prominence. substantive discussions had taken place with Synonyms: prominence, eminence, fame, Beijing. Also Read, importance Q.94) Accrual (Noun) ; Antonyms: insignificance, unimportance Meaning: the accumulation or increase of Usage: Two board members wanted to something over time, especially payments or discuss the salience of the health care issue, benefits. but the others didn’t see the importance. Synonym: result, arise Q.91) Throng (Noun) ; Antonym: abatement, decline Meaning: A crowd of people or animals Usage: Do not confuse limitations on the Synonym: stream, swarm, flock, accrual of benefits with limitations on Antonym: scantling, take apart deductible contribution. Usage: we parked the car and made our way Q.95) Conspire (verb) ; to the little tearoom, packed with throngs of Meaning: make secret plans jointly to tourists. commit an unlawful or harmful act. Q.92) Amend (verb) ; Synonym: collude, connive, Meaning: make minor changes to (a text, Antonym: Neglect, disagree piece of legislation, etc.) in order to make it Usage: The Culprit conspired to overthrow fairer or more accurate, or to reflect changing the government circumstances. Q.96) Sulky (Adjective) ; Synonyms: alter, enhance, lift, modify Meaning: morose, bad-tempered, and Antonyms: lower, worsen, break resentful; refusing to be cooperative or Usage: I was for going to Wiscasset, like two cheerful. prodigals, own our fault, and endeavor to Synonyms: Sullen, surly, pouting, petulant amend. Antonyms: cheerful, amiable

Usage: Jay was quite sulky at the graduation Q.100) Peculiar (Adjective) : party, but he tried to hide his apathetic Meaning: different from either is normal or attitude. expected; strange. Q.97) Inchoate (adjective) ; Synonyms: strange, unusual, curious, Meaning: just begun and so not fully formed abnormal or developed; rudimentary. Antonyms: common, general, indefinite, Synonyms: budding, inceptive, incipient, ordinary nascent. Usage: My uncle is a peculiar man who wears Antonyms: developed, full-fledged, evolved, the same outfit several days a week. ripened. Usage: Having just come into existence a few years ago, the new political party is considered inchoate by many historians. Q.98) Conflate (verb) : Meaning: combine (two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, etc.) into one. Synonyms: amalgamate, converge, unify, fuse. Antonyms: divide, part, separate, rupture. Usage: To conflate art and science, teachers must design activities that blend the two. Q.99) Pander (Verb) :

Meaning: gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire or taste or a person with such a desire or taste) . Synonyms: indulge, gratify, fulfill, humor

Antonyms: annoy, frustrate Usage: Because Jim wants his son to value a dollar, he does not pander to his whims by giving him everything he wants.

CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ c) Prem K Nair d) Taranjit Singh Sandhu Q.1) Which of the following Payments Bank e) Periasamy Kumaran has teamed up with the Payments Major, Q.5) Which insurance has launched the modified PM Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) Mastercard to develop customised financial pension scheme recently. products for farmers, SMEs? a) Oriental Insurance Company Limited a) Airtel Payments Bank b) New India Assurance Company Limited b) Fino Payments Bank c) Life Insurance Corporation of India c) India Post Payments Bank d) Jio Payments Bank d) United India Insurance Company Limited e) Paytm Payments Bank e) National Insurance Company Limited Q.2) Name the first Indian Peacekeeper to win Q.6) Which private sector bank has partnered the UN Military Gender Award? with Maruti Suzuki to offer retail financing schemes to its customers. a) Colonel Rajiv Joshi a) ICICI Bank b) Major Hema Divakar b) HDFC Bank c) Major Suman Gawani c) CUB Bank d) Admiral Vinay Badhwar d) YES Bank e) Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani e) Axis Bank Q.3) Which Indian institute which has got first of it’s kind Infectious Disease Block facility. Q.7) The Ickabog book is written by which of a) Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical the following authors? Sciences a) Jeffrey Archer b) NIMS University b) Sidney Sheldon c) Agatha Christie c) Kasturba Medical College d) JK Rowling d) All India Institute of Medical Sciences e) Rupert Grint e) Christian Medical College Q.8) Who among the following has been Q.4) Who has been appointed as India's High named as the Inventor of the Year for his Commissioner to Singapore? a) Harsh Vardhan Shringla work in advancing the electronic industry and b) Jawed Ashraf improving artificial intelligence capabilities ?

a) Kamlesh Pant Q.12) Power Finance Corporation signed an b) Anand Raj MoU with NBPCL to fund hydro-electric c) Deepak Singh projects to which of the following states? d) Sushil Talwar a) Madhya Pradesh e) Rajiv Joshi b) Kerala Q.9) To boost the” Char Dham” project to c) Andhra Pradesh connectholy towns, the Border Roads d) Tamil Nadu Organisation (BRO) has constructed a 440- e) Maharashtra meter-long tunnel under the Chamba town of Q.13) India has set up a military war game which Indian state/UT? centrenamed ‘INDIA’ recently at which a) Himachal Pradesh country? b) Tamil Nadu a) Uganda c) Sikkim b) Rwanda d) Uttarakhand c) Kenya e) Arunachal Pradesh d) Congo Q.10) Name the Indian state which starts e) Ghana Implementation of Solar Fence Farmland Q.14) ‘Everybody will get employment’ Protection Programme. scheme was launched in which Indian state in a) Tamil Nadu May 2020? b) Kerala a) Uttar Pradesh c) Andhra Pradesh b) Himachal Pradesh d) Karnataka c) Andhra Pradesh e) Gujarat d) Arunachal Pradesh Q.11) Arumugam Thondaman who passed e) Madhya Pradesh away recently was a ______. Q.15) What is the name of breathable PPE kit a) Politician that was developed by Indian navy? b) Hockey Player a) NavyMask c) Freedom Fighter b) NavRakshak d) Writer c) NavJeevan e) Vocalist d) NavLite

e) NavPrathik d) Tibet Q.16) Who has been appointed as President e) Nepal of the National Development Bank? Q.20) Which company has acquired a) Carmen Reinhart Amsterdam based Etergo BV to launch 2- b) K V Kamath wheeler Electric Vehicles? c) Anil Kishora a) Maruti Suzuki d) Marcos Prado Troyjo b) Mahindra e-Verito e) Gita Gopinath c) Hyundai Kona Electric Q.17) Which of the following countries is the d) Tata Nexon EV world's first to launch the contact-tracing app e) Ola Electric developed by Google and Apple? Q.21) Which of the following companies has a) Brazil tied up with TajSATS to provide meals for the b) China medical staff and healthcare workers ? c) India a) NTPC d) Switzerland b) Reliance Industries e) Turkey c) Tata Energy Q.18) Name the plan which was part of d) Adani Power Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana e) REC Limited (PMMSY), to modernize the fisheries sector. Q.22) The Researchers at which institute have a) Mitra Sagar developed a lighter, breathable PPE kit to fight b) Swath Sagar Covid-19? c) Suman Sagar a) IIT Madras d) Sea Environment b) IIT Roorkee e) Swachh Sagar c) IIT Mandi Q.19) Tsai Ing-wen has been re-elected as d) IIT Delhi the president of which country for the 2nd e) IIT Hyderabad term in May 2020? Q.23) Which of the following educational a) Taiwan institutes has developed a lightweight alloy to b) Hong Kong replace steel, aluminium in cars? c) Thailand a) IIT Madras

b) IIT Roorkee a) Madhav Kalyan c) IIT Mandi b) Leo Puri d) IIT Delhi c) Murli Maiya e) IIT Hyderabad d) Kalpana Morparia Q.24) Who has been appointed as the new e) Nilesh Sathe Chief Secretary of Kerala? Q.28) Asian Development Bank and a) Anil Kishora Government of India has signed loan b) Vishwas Mehta agreement of $177 million to upgrade roads c) R Sreelekha in which state? d) Rajeswari a) West Bengal e) Mahesh Palashikar b) Arunachal Pradesh Q.25) Which of the following state c) Maharashtra governments has recently launched a project d) Gujarat to maintain health database of all citizens? e) Karnataka a) Uttar Pradesh Q.29) Which state government is working to b) Kerala develop 800 km roads as Herbal roads which c) Karnataka will have medicinal and herbal trees on both d) Tamil Nadu sides. ? e) Gujarat a) Kerala Q.26) Which of the following states recently b) Haryana signed MoUs with NAREDCO and CII to c) Uttar Pradesh provide jobs to around 9.5 Lakh Migrants? d) Tamil Nadu a) Jharkhand e) Assam b) Madhya Pradesh Q.30) What will be the contraction in India’s c) Bihar GDP rate in FY21 as per estimation of Fitch d) Uttar Pradesh ratings? e) Maharashtra a) 5% Q.27) Who has been appointed as the b) 4% Financial Advisor at the National Highway c) 3% Authority of India (NHAI) ? d) 2%

e) 1% d) Gopal Krishnan Q.31) FIFA has collaborated with which e) SN Rajeswari organisation to launch a campaign to help Q.35) Mohit Gupta has been appointed as the domestic violence victims amid the co-founder of which company? coronavirus lockdown? a) Uber a) World Bank b) Zomato b) UNESCO c) Swiggy c) UNIDO d) Dominos d) WHO e) Foodpanda e) UNICEF Q.36) Who has been appointed as the Q.32) Who has been appointed as the Wipro's Chairman and Managing Director of Power new CEO and MD? Finance Corporation? a) Marcos Troyjo a) Thierry Delaporte b) Jonathan Karp b) PR Jaishankar c) Anil Kishora c) Jassa Singh Ahluwalia d) Thierry Delaporte d) R S Dhillon e) Mahesh Palashikar e) Jonathan Karp Q.33) Which of the following launched AI Q.37) Venkataramani Sumantran has been Virtual assistant pAi to create Product appointed as the Independent Director of awareness? which airlines? a) NPCI a) Emirates b) NCLT b) Air India c) NTPC c) IndiGo d) IRDAI d) GoAir e) SEBI e) Spice jet Q.34) Banks Board Bureau selects _____ as Q.38) Which of the following state planned to CMD of Oriental Insurance Company. launch 1st of its kind state health register to a) Prado Troyjo maintain records of citizens of the state? b) Paulo James a) Kerala c) Anton Siluanov b) Karnataka

c) Maharashtra Q.42) RBI recently stopped selling 7.75% d) Gujarat govt savings bonds. what was the lock-in e) Maharashtra period (in years) of the bonds? Q.39) Which Sri Lankan bowler has been a) 3 suspended from all forms of cricket for alleged b) 5 possession of illegal drugs ? c) 7 a) Avishka Fernando d) 4 b) Dhananjaya de Silva e) 8 c) Shehan Madushanka Q.43) Who has been appointed as the director d) Kasun Rajitha at the PMO? e) Dimuth Karunaratne a) C Sridhar Q.40) Which of the following government is b) S Gopalakrishnan preparing a database under the ‘Swamitva’ c) Meera Mohanty scheme to provide land ownership rights to d) PR Jaishankar people in rural areas ? e) None of the above a) Andhra Pradesh Q.44) Which state has launched ‘Rozgar Setu’ b) Punjab Yojana to support and provide employment to c) Kerala the migrant workers? d) Madhya Pradesh a) Jharkhand e) Haryana b) Bihar Q.41) Who has been appointed as the new c) Uttar Pradesh Trustee of the Natural History Museum which d) Goa is situated in London? e) Madhya Pradesh a) S Gopalakrishnan Q.45) which state has launched scheme b) Yadvinder Malhi named “Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana” to c) PR Jaishankar retain the migrants who have returned to the d) Kasun Rajitha state during the lockdown. e) Dimuth Karunaratne a) Telangana b) Uttarakhand c) Bihar

d) Uttar Pradesh b) Football e) Maharashtra c) Shot put Q.46) Which of the following state has d) Boxing sanctions Rs 1,050 crore credit support from e) Athlete NABARD? Q.50) Who has been appointed as the a) Maharashtra chairman of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy b) Karnataka Board of India's advisory committee on c) Tamil Nadu service providers? d) West Bengal a) Manoj Pande e) Madhya Pradesh b) Arun Singh Q.47) India received the highest FDI for the c) Akhil Gupta Financial Year 2019-20 from? d) Mohandas Pai a) Netherland e) Bimal N Patel b) Singapore Q.51) Which of the following NGOs was c) United States conferred with the WHO's World No Tobacco d) China Day Award 2020? e) Maldives a) Kathar Q.48) Virat Kohli is the only cricketer to b) SEEDS feature in Forbes' list of the top 100 highest- c) HELP paid athletes for the year 2020. which of the d) CARE following sportsmen took the first place? e) PRAISE a) Cristiano Ronaldo Q.52) Who has been appointed as the 15th b) Lionel Messi Commander-in-Chief of Andaman and c) Roger Federer Nicobar Command? d) Rafael Nadal a) Shankar Rajeshwar e) Serena Williams b) Manoj Pande Q.49) Kiranjeet Kaur was banned by WADA c) Rajaram recently. Which of the following sports is she d) Shakthi Das associated with? e) Eshwar a) Squash

Q.53) Arun Singhal appointed as the CEO of Q.57) Who has been appointed as the ______. Secretary in the Department of Chemicals and a) IRDAI Petrochemicals? b) FSSAI a) Anup Wadhawan c) NASSCOM b) R K Chaturvedi d) FICCI c) Ravi Kant e) SIDBI d) Raghavendra Rao Q.54) ______is the first state to declare e) Vikram Kumar the internet as a fundamental right of the Q.58) PM – SVANIDHI scheme was launched citizen. recently. Who are the beneficiaries of this a) Kerala scheme? b) Tamil Nadu a) Construction workers c) Andhra Pradesh b) Street Vendors d) Karnataka c) Pregnant Women e) Maharashtra d) Industry workers Q.55) Name the Lakshmi Vilas bank’s interim e) Government Employees CEO got his tenure extended? Q.59) Name the e-learning platform launched a) Subramanian Sundar by The Sports Authority of India to provide an b) Rajaseker online coaching programme for grassroot c) Manjunath level. d) Dillep Kumar a) Go India online e) Karnam Seker b) Khelo India Marathon Q.56) Who has been appointed as the c) Khelo India e-Pathshala secretary in the Ministry of Steel? d) Khelo India Library a) Anup Wadhawan e) Khelo India online b) Rajiv Gauba Q.60) Which bank has partnered with Chalo c) Pradip Kumar Tripathi launch to bring in a contactless card for bus d) Ramesh Sobti passengers ? e) Haricharan a) UCO b) ICICI

c) Yes Bank d) Pooja Hedge d) SBI e) Siva Raman e) HDFC Q.65) Who is the head of the committee Q.61) Who among the following has taken appointed by PM Modi for MSME Loan Scheme charge as the Deputy Managing Director of implementation? Exim Bank ? a) Amitabh Kant a) Anandi Mishra b) Nitin Gadkari b) Harsha Bangari c) Rajnath Singh c) Sudarshan Kumari d) Amit Shah d) Nalin Sharma e) Nirmala Sitharaman e) Aruna Mehta Q.66) Which city which has topped among Q.62) Who has been appointed as India’s next Indian cities in “2020 Cities Global Ranking of Ambassador to Kuwait ? Startup Ecosystem” report? a) Nilambar Acharya a) Chennai b) Sibi George b) Bangalore c) Gaitri Issar Kumar c) Mumbai d) Manjeev Singh Puri d) New Delhi e) Dinkar Khullar e) Hyderabad Q.63) What is the rank of India in the world's Q.67) Which ministry has released the e- best startups ecosystems ranking? booklet titled ‘One Year of Modi 2.0 – Towards a) 89 A Self-Reliant India’? b) 34 a) Ministry of Human Resource and c) 77 Development d) 23 b) Ministry of Home Affairs e) 44 c) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Q.64) Who has been appointed as India's d) Ministry of Corporate Affairs Next High Commissioner To UK? e) Ministry of Science and Technology a) Gaitri Kumar Q.68) Name the portal which was launched by b) Jahnabi Phookan PM Modi to help the smaller MSMEs by c) Ruchi Ghanashyam

resolving their grievances and the complaints Q.72) Name the Indian writer who won received on the portal. regional award for Asia in 2020 a) GARUD Commonwealth Short Story Prize? b) HOPE a) Reyah Martin c) CHAMPIONS b) Kritika Pandey d) SARASWATI c) Innocent Chizaram e) YUKTI d) Andrea E Macleod Q.69) Ircon inks pact with NIIFL, Ayana Power e) Brian S Heap to explore opportunities in which of the Q.73) Who has been appointed as the Vice- following? President of the Confederation of Indian b) Discoms Supply Electricity Industry for the year 2020-21? c) Solar Energy a) Uday Kotak d) Thermal Energy b) Vikram Kirloskar e) Water Supply c) Rajnish Kumar Q.70) Which IIT is re-purpose approved drugs d) Sanjiv Bajaj from DrugBank database to treat COVID-19 e) Virendra Nath disease? Q.74) The cabinet gave its nod to rename the a) IIT- BHU Kolkatta Port Trust. It is to be renamed as b) IIT- Madras ______. c) IIT- Guwahati a) Jawaharlal Nehru d) IIT- Kanpur b) Kamarajar Port Trust e) IIT- Hyderabad c) Syama Prasad Mookerjee Trust Q.71) Name the mission launched by Punjab d) Deendayal Port Trust Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to e) Vishakhapatnam Port Trust spread awareness about COVID-19. Q.75) Who has been appointed as the next a) Mission Awareness High Commissioner of India to the Papua New b) Mission Rahat Guinea? c) Mission Challenge a) Devendra Dubey d) Mission Fateh b) Sushil Kumar Singhal e) Mission Covid c) Anil Kumar

d) Saraswati Prasad e) Myntra e) Baldeep Kumar Q.80) Which of the Following bank partners Q.76) Who has been recently appointed as the with TCIL for real time payments to truck Chairman of the Social Media giant, Twitter? drivers? a) Steve Rogers a) Axis Bank b) Chris Hughes b) ICICI Bank c) Patrick Pichette c) Canara Bank d) Jan Koum d) DBS Bank e) Mike Krieger e) Union Bank Q.77) Where is Kondapochamma Reservoir Q.81) Who becomes new CMD of National located? Fertilizers Limited? a) Kerala a) Manoj Mishra b) Andhra Pradesh b) Sushil Kumar c) Telangana c) Virendra Nath Datt d) Tamil Nadu d) Vani Rao e) Karnataka e) Shanmugam Q.78) According to The Asia University Q.82) The first bilateral 'virtual Summit' of rankings, which of the following universities is India was held with which of the following ranked the first in India? countries? a) IISER, Pune a) Maldives b) IISc, Bangalore b) Bhutan c) IIT Ropar c) Australia d) IIT Madras d) United States e) IIT Delhi e) Israel Q.79) 'Click to Buy' is an initiative of which of Q.83) Name the Government scheme the following companies? launched by the Central government to a) Amazon provide for jobs to returning Indians from b) Maruti Suzuki abroad. c) FlipKart a) SAMIKSHA d) Hyundai b) SWADES

c) SAMARTH a) Axis Bank d) SAKSHAR b) SBI e) SKILLED c) ICICI Q.84) Who has taken over as the President of d) HDFC Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) ? e) IndusInd a) Bret Taylor Q.88) Nitin Gadkari has announced the b) Jess Crohn development of a new Greenfield expressway c) Sanjiv Bajaj to which city and will be made completely d) Uday Kotak signal free? e) Vikram Kirloskar a) Sultanpur Lodhi Q.85) Who has been appointed as the new b) Amritsar Chairperson of BAFTA ? c) Chandigarh a) Dinesh Sood d) Ludhiana b) B Gakher e) Gurdaspur c) Krishnendu Majumdar Q.89) Which of the following company has d) Pippa Hariis been recognized as ‘IT Service Provider of the e) Ashok Jha Year 2020’ by Everest Group ? Q.86) Facebook has signed a deal with which a) Tech Mahindra music label to bolster the library of its music b) Cognizant products across its flagship social networking c) TCS platform and Instagram ? d) UST Global a) Zee Music e) Honeywell b) Saregama Q.90) Which of the following insurance c) Spotify companies recently launched telematics- d) Hungama based motor insurance to save premiums? e) T-Series a) BajajAllianz Insurance Company Q.87) Which bank has launched a mobile app b) Tata AIG Insurance Company based facility to open current accounts for c) Aviva Insurance Company self-employed individuals and businesses d) Bharti AXA Insurance Company digitally within a few hours ? e) Max Bupa Insurance Company

Q.91) Who has been appointed as the Senior Q.95) Asian Football Confederation has Advisor at the World Bank by the ACC? awarded the hosting rights of the 2022 a) Pritam Singh Women’s Asian Cup to which country? b) Ramesh Kumar a) China c) Rajiv Topno b) Brazil d) Balbir Singh c) India e) Brajendra Navnit d) Japan Q.92) Who has been appointed as India's next e) Mexico Ambassador to Finland? Q.96) Find the private bank which partnered a) Rajiv Singh with Mastercard India &Worldline India to b) Gaitri Kumar launch ‘Soft POS’. c) Brajendra Navnit a) DBS Bank d) Raveesh Kumar b) ICICI Bank e) Vani Rao c) Axis Bank Q.93) ______government launches d) HDFC Bank ‘Spandan Campaign’ to check suicide and e) City Union Bank fratricide. Q.97) Who has authored the new Book The a) Assam Dry Fasting Miracle: From Deprive to Thrive b) Bihar to Promote Benefits Of ‘dry Fasting’ Diet ? c) Chhattisgarh a) Sanjay Gupta d) Delhi b) Atul Gawande e) Kerala c) Siddhartha Mukherjee Q.94) Who has been recently appointed as d) Vivek Murthy Addidas Ambassador? e) Luke Countiho a) Aishwarya Bachhan Q.98) Which state/UT has launched an app b) Shahid Kapoor “MeraVetan” to provide salary information to c) Manushi Chhillar employees in remote & rural areas ? d) Nisha Singh a) Ladakh e) Anushka Sharma b) Assam c) Maharashtra

d) Kerala a) DBS Bank e) Jammu & Kashmir b) ICICI Bank Q.99) Former Miss World ManushiChhillar c) Axis Bank joined the global initiative of d) HDFC Bank #RedDotChallenge campaign recently. Which e) City Union Bank organization launched this campaign. Q.103) Which public sector bank which has a) International Monetary Fund (IMF) created separate vertical for Financial b) United Nations Industrial Development Inclusion and Micro Market (FI&MM) recently Organization (UNIDO) (The Division was headed by Sanjeev c) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nautiyal) . d) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) a) Punjab National Bank e) United Nations Educational, Scientific and b) Indian Overseas Bank Cultural Organization (UNESCO) c) Allahabad Bank Q.100) Who was appointed as Chairman of d) EXIM Bank DLF? e) State Bank of India a) KP Singh Q.104) Who was appointed as the 1st ever b) Narendra Batra brand ambassador of IIFL Finance? c) Rajiv Singh a) Rohit Sharma d) Deepak Chopra b) MS Dhoni e) John Ratey c) KL Rahul Q.101) Who wins EY World Entrepreneur of d) Ajinkya Rahane the Year 2020 Award? e) Virat Kohli a) Cheong Koon Hean Q.105) Which airport received Platinum b) Olivia Lum Recognition (under 15-35 MPPA) in ACI Asia- c) Elim Chew Pacific Green Airports recognition 2020. d) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw a) Indira Gandhi International Airport e) Sock Koong b) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Q.102) Which of the following Bank launches Airport “Summer Treats” to meet post lockdown c) Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International needs? Airport

d) Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport c) United States e) Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport d) Germany Q.106) Which state/UT has launched India’s e) France 1st “online waste management platform” Q.110) Which Indian personality recently won recently. the prestigious Richard Dawkins award? a) Madhya Pradesh a) Samir khan b) Telangana b) Lalji Singh c) Gujarat c) Javed Akhtar d) Maharashtra d) Farook Khan e) Andhra Pradesh e) Shahid Kapoor Q.107) NABARD provided Rs. 270 crores as Q.111) Which Insurance company has the Special Liquidity Facility (SLF) to which appointed Sharad Mathur as its MD & CEO? bank? a) Universal Sompo a) Baroda Rajasthan Kshetriya Gramin Bank b) IFFCO Tokio b) Assam Gramin Vikash Bank c) Bajaj Allianz c) Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank d) Tata AIG d) Central Madhya Pradesh Gramin Bank e) HDFC ERGO e) Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank Q.112) Who has been appointed as the Chief Q.108) Who has been appointed as the Risk Officer of Karnataka Bank? UNADAP’s ‘Goodwill Ambassador to the Poor’? a) BR Ashok a) Nethra b) Ramesh S b) Krithika c) Naveen Kumar c) Chitra d) Jayaraman d) Divya e) Mythily Rajan e) Karthika Q.113) What is India’s rank in the 12th edition Q.109) The G7 Summit 2020 which was of EPI Index released by the Yale University? postponed to September/November 2020 will a) 189 be hosted by which country? b) 168 a) Canada c) 179 b) Japan d) 144

e) 123 d) Pondicherry Q.114) WCD Ministry has constituted task e) New Delhi force headed by whom to examine issues Q.118) Which of the following institution has related to lowering Maternal Mortality Rate? developed a machine in which products can a) Laila Tyabji be sterilised using UV rays ? b) Mira Nair a) IIT-Madras c) Deepak Chatterjee b) IIT-Ropar d) Jaya Jaitley c) IIT-Delhi e) Shakthi Devi d) IIT-Kanpur Q.115) Which of the following has emerged as e) IIT-Hyderabad the top Indian state in wheat procurement on Q.119) Which of the following state has support prices? reported the maximum cases of poaching of a) Haryana Tigers in the country? b) Madhya Pradesh a) Punjab c) Chhattisgarh b) Madhya Pradesh d) Punjab c) Assam e) Rajasthan d) Maharashtra Q.116) Researchers at which of the following e) Haryana institute have developed a low cost Artificial Q.120) Which company has inked a pact with Intelligence-based test kit for COVID-19? UN Global Compact on aligning recovery a) IIT Ropar efforts with the latest climate science ? b) IIT Madras a) RIL c) CSIR Pune b) Cognizant d) IIT Delhi c) Infosys e) IIT Hyderabad d) Tech Mahindra Q.117) Which Union Territory has topped in e) TCS the food safety index released by FSSAI? Q.121) Which of the following cricketer has a) Jammu & Kashmir received the Order of Australia honour for his b) Chandigarh sporting career and community work ? c) Andaman & Nicobar Islands a) Tim Paine

b) Aaron Finch Q.125) India and ______signed an MoU for c) Michael Clarke developing cooperation in the power sector d) Ricky Ponting a) UK e) Adam Gilchrist b) Papa new Guinea Q.122) Which team has recently won the c) Denmark Women’s Super League champions title d) France following the termination of the 2019/20 e) Japan season ? Q.126) Which of the following state has a) Barcelona FC Women approved a proposal to give ”Bande Utkala b) Arsenal FC Women Janani” status of anthem ? c) Manchester City Women a) Tamil Nadu d) Aston Villa Women b) Telangana e) Chelsea FC Women c) Kerala Q.123) Which of the following state launches d) West Bengal green belt development scheme for rural e) Odisha senior citizens? Q.127) PhonePe has collaborated with which a) Madhya Pradesh company to launch a domestic trip insurance b) Arunachal Pradesh scheme ? c) Himachal Pradesh a) Max Bupa d) Andhra Pradesh b) Religare e) Uttar Pradesh c) ICICI Lombard Q.124) Karnataka launches ______app d) HDFC Ergo for real time info on rains, flooding in e) Apollo Munich Bangalore. Q.128) Which company has recently launched a) Mithra a fully-digital online sales platform called b) Bansanthra eShop ? c) Meghasandesha a) Ford d) Sangamitra b) Tata Motors e) Varunamitra c) Mahindra d) Honda

e) Hero MotoCorp Q.133) Who has honored with “NASA Q.129) Which organization recently Distinguished Public Service Medal” recently? conducted India’s first B2B virtual trade? a) Rajiv Kumar a) Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council b) Ramesh Kumar b) Spices Board of India c) Swetha Naidu c) Federation of Indian Export Organisations d) RK Chetty Pandipati d) India Trade Promotion Organisation e) Renjith Kumar e) Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts Q.134) Name the world’s 1st ‘Internet- Q.130) Which of the following Indian state has controlled’ robot which was specially designed amended a 65-year-old act to stop cow for COVID-19 hospitals. slaughter in the state? a) Melts-Bot a) Uttar Pradesh b) Modern bot b) Haryana c) India-Bot c) Maharashtra d) Coro-bot d) Rajasthan e) COmBat e) Uttarakhand Q.135) Name the mobile app which was Q.131) Gairsain was declared as the summer developed by IIT Guwahati’s students for capital of which state/UT? seamless and contactless air travel. a) Uttarakhand a) Bonus b) Jammu & Kashmir b) Copiet c) Haryana c) Tickle d) Rajasthan d) Brat e) Andhra Pradesh e) Flyzy Q.132) World Bank has lending Rs. 1950 crore Q.136) Which of the following colour band is to which state to combat COVID-19? used in the number plate sticker for a diesel a) Punjab vehicle? b) Maharashtra a) Orange c) West Bengal b) Red d) Arunachal Pradesh c) Blue e) Gujarat d) Violet

e) Yellow e) IIT-Delhi Q.137) Who has been appointed as the judge Q.141) Which state government has launched of Jammu & Kashmir High Court ? the Panchvati yojana for development of a) Ramesh Sharma parks and gardens for senior citizens in rural b) Arnab Goswami areas ? c) Javed Iqbal Wani a) Uttar Pradesh d) Ramraj Chauhan b) Himachal Pradesh e) Abdulhamid Kureshi c) Haryana Q.138) Who has recently appointed as Senior d) Punjab Director of Google Cloud ? e) Assam a) Anand Kumar Q.142) Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series of b) Gowswami Tourism ministry is an effort to showcase c) Vasudev India’s rich diversity under ______d) Anil Valluri programme. e) Arunima Sinha a) Swadesh Darshan Q.139) Name the Indian sprinter who has b) Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat been banned for a term of 4 years by the c) Ayushman Bharat Athletes Integrity Unit of the World Athletics. d) Jal Jeevan Mission a) Hima Das e) Hunar Tourism Projects b) Dutee Chand Q.143) Which of the Following Indian city c) M. R. Poovamma topped in the Mercer's ‘2020 Cost of Living d) Amrit Pal Survey’? e) Gomathi Marimuthu a) Bangalore Q.140) ______develops Anti-microbial b) Mumbai multilayer face mask to annihilate pathogenic c) Chennai microorganisms? d) New Delhi a) IIT-Roorkee e) Kolkata b) IIT-Hyderabad Q.144) Name the European high jumper who c) IIT-BHU has been banned for a term of 4 years by d) IIT-Madras Court of Arbitration for Sport(CAS) ?

a) Eric Prabhakar b) Switzerland b) Kenneth Powell c) Finland c) Terence Pitt d) Sweden d) Amrit Pal e) Denmark e) Alexander Shustov Q.149) Empays Payment Systems partners Q.145) Pierre Nkurunziza recently passes ______to enable contact-free ATM cash away. He was a President of ______. withdrawals a) Burundi a) TCS b) Mongolia b) Visa c) Slovakia c) Mastercard d) Maldives d) Rupay e) Philippines e) Infosys Q.146) Who has been appointed as the next Q.150) Which company has partnered with Ambassador of India to the Republic of First Alliance Bank Ltd to provide mPOS Philippines? solution to SME and other businesses? a) Shambhu S. Kumaran a) Easytap b) Sasi Rajan b) Postiflex c) Ranjith Kumar c) PayTM POS d) L V Prabhakar d) ePaisa e) Kamalesh Kumar e) Webnier Q.147) Which of the following state opens its Q.151) What is India’s rank in Deep biggest biodiversity park in Haldwani? Knowledge Group’s safest country in the a) Madhya Pradesh world from COVID- 19, where Switzerland b) Himachal Pradesh tops the list? c) Uttarakhand a) 130 d) Tamil Nadu b) 72 e) Uttar Pradesh c) 56 Q.148) Monika Kapil Mohta appointed India's d) 112 next Ambassador to Which Country? e) 23 a) Philippines

Q.152) Who chairs the committee which was d) Kerala constituted by Ministry of Home Affairs for the e) Andhra Pradesh welfare of the freedom fighters? Q.156) IDBI Bank's board approved a) Kiren Rijiju appointment of ______as govt nominee b) Jitendra Singh director. c) Kishan Reddy a) Keshva Kumar d) Shripad Yesso Naik b) Anshuman Sharma e) Prahlad Singh Patel c) Sunil Kumar Q.153) Which Indian University has ranked on d) Shrey Vyas top in the QS World University Rankings ? e) Deepak Sharma a) IIT Madras Q.157) Which is the first airport in India to b) IIT Bombay deploy a tech-enabled smart irrigation c) IIT Hyderabad system? d) IIT Delhi a) Visakhapatnam International Airport e) IIT Roorkee b) Bangalore International Airport Q.154) Who has become the First American c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Woman to Walk in Space and reach the Airport Deepest Spot in the Ocean known as d) Veer Savarkar International Airport Challenger Deep ? e) Indira Gandhi International Airport a) Peggy Whitson Q.158) Who has been named the recipient of b) Christina Koch the World Food Prize 2020? c) Jessica Meir a) Aravind Kumar d) Kathy Sullivan b) Rajasekharan e) Ann Mcclane c) Rangasamy Q.155) Which of the following state has d) Kapil Sharma launched the ‘Jagananna Chedodu’ scheme e) Rattan Lal for tailors, barbers and washermen ? Q.159) Which of the Indian musician has won a) Karnataka an Australian Honour for her service to the b) Tamil Nadu community and the country? c) Telangana a) Usha Rangarajan

b) Udit Narayan a) Tiripura c) Shobha Shekar b) Assam d) Arijit Singh c) Tamil Nadu e) Shreya Ghoshal d) Kerala Q.160) Which has become the first US e) Maharashtra company to hit $1.5 trillion market cap ? Q.164) What is India’s spot on the latest a) Twitter ranking released by FIFA? b) Facebook a) 101 c) Apple b) 105 d) Google c) 108 e) Microsoft d) 107 Q.161) Which of the following institutes has e) 103 topped in the list of higher education Q.165) Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launches institutions released by NIRF Ranking 2020 ? ______Scheme on Internship Programme by a) IIT Hyderabad National Cooperative Development b) IISc Bangalore Corporation c) IIT Roorkee a) Seva Mitra d) IIT Madras b) Agri Mitra e) IIT Delhi c) Sahakar Mitra Q.162) Which of the following country has d) Sakshar Mitra launched plasma network named e) Farmer Mitra ‘Shohojodha’ for the treatment of COVID 19? Q.166) Who has taken charge as taken charge a) China of the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval b) Vietnam Command? c) Bangladesh a) Anil Singh d) Thailand b) Rajesh Kumar e) Sri Lanka c) S N Ghormade Q.163) Which of the following state has d) Anand Mehta renamed its environment ministry as e) Biswajit Dasgupta ‘Environment and Climate Change Ministry’?

Q.167) ______becomes first construction d) 70 sector organization to go ‘Fully Digital’. e) 65 a) L&T Q.171) Which of the following state become b) Spicee the First State to Get ISO Certification for c) NHAI Tribal Hostels? d) BRO a) Maharashtra e) JMC Projects b) Madhya Pradesh Q.168) Name the programme Launched In c) Karnataka Hyderabad To Support And Empower Women d) Odisha Against Domestic Violence. e) Jharkhand a) SAFETY Q.172) Flood warning system ‘I-FLOWS’ was b) SASHAKT recently launched which of the following c) STREE Indian city? d) EMPOWER a) Hyderabad e) SECURE b) Mumbai Q.169) Which of the following state gas c) Kolkata launched the ‘Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana’ in d) Pune under which the children of the workers would e) Lucknow be given financial assistance ? Q.173) Who was appointed as the brand a) Haryana ambassador of Bihar’s Khadi? b) Uttar Pradesh a) Pankaj Tripathi c) Kerala b) Anupam Kher d) Assam c) Ranveer Singh e) Madhya Pradesh d) Shahid Kapoor Q.170) What is the new upper limit of age as e) Sonam Kapoor proposed by RBI for CEOs and whole-time Q.174) Which of the following state has directors of banks? launched ‘Ghar ghar nigrani’ app to conduct a) 71 house-to-house surveillance? b) 67 a) Punjab c) 66 b) Gujarat

c) Haryana b) Eastern Railways d) Bihar c) Central Railways e) Kerala d) Southern Railways Q.175) Who heads the 5-member Internal e) North East Railways working group formed by RBI to review Q.179) Which of the following Indian state ownership and control of Private banks? celebrates the unique festival Raja Parba? a) Rajiv Chaturvedi a) Tripura b) PK Mohanty b) Odisha c) Sunil Vadera c) Meghalaya d) S. C. Murmu d) Assam e) Poonam Yadav e) Chhattisgarh Q.176) Which of the following bank has Q.180) RBI has barred which bank from extended a $215 million Line of Credit to granting fresh loans, accepting deposits for 6 Malawi for their various projects? months ? a) SIDBI a) Central Co-Operative Bank b) RBI b) Saraswath Cooperative Bank Ltd. c) EXIM Bank c) Cosmos Cooperative Bank Ltd. d) NABARD d) Shamravu Vithal Coop Bank Ltd. e) SBI e) People’s Co-operative Bank Q.177) Imtaiyazur Rahman has been Q.181) Which Indian institute has developed appointed as the CEO of ______. a ‘Workplace Readiness Indicator’ that helps a) LIC organizations to insulate workplaces from b) Max Bupa Corona pandemic? c) UTI Mutual Funds a) IISER-Pune d) Muthoot Finance b) IISc- Bangalore e) Sundaram Finance c) IIT-Madras Q.178) ______Railway launches robot d) IIT-Delhi 'Captain Arjun' to screen passengers in Pune e) IIT-Kanpur for COVID-19 a) Western Railways

Q.182) Which of the following is the Ayurvedic d SBI face mask developed by Defence Institute of e) ICICI Advanced Technology? Q.186) Who chairs the committee a) Sumitrati restructured by IBBI for Corporate Insolvency b) Pavitrapati Resolution and Liquidation process? c) Revathikar a) Uday Kotak d) Gorakhpurti b) Raj Piramal e) Cleanity c) Varun Kumar Q.183) Which of the following private sector d) Sanjay Kumar bank has launched “InstaFlexicash” an online e) Karan Kapoor overdraft (OD) facility? Q.187) Sushant Singh Rajput who passed a) Axis Bank away recently was a famous ______. b) ICICI Bank a) Director c) IndusInd Bank b) Economist d) Kotak Mahindra Bank c) Cricketer e) RBL Bank d) Singer Q.184) RBI has approved the re-appointment e) Actor of ______as the Executive Director of Q.188) Which of the following Payment bank HDFC Bank. has launched a new salary account for MSMEs a) Aditya Puri ? b) Harish Kalyan a) Indian Post Payments Bank c) Sunil Mehta b) Jio Payments Bank d) Deepak Kumar c) Airtel Payments Bank e) Kaizad Bharucha d) Paytm Payments Bank Q.185) Which of the following bank has e) Aditya Birla Payments Bank extended a credit line of Rs 750 crore for the Q.189) Who has been appointed as India’s Gorakhpur Link Expressway? next Ambassador to Belgium ? a) BOB a) Anand Mehta b) HDFC b) Santosh Jha c) PNB c) Anushka Sharma

d) Nidhi Vasandani offer commercial drone owners and operators e) Monika Kapil Mohta third-party liability cover for property Q.190) Central Railway sets up Body damages? Screening Facility ______In Mumbai’s a) LIC CSMT and LTT Stations in an effort towards b) Aviva passenger safety. c) Religare a) CleanEye d) HDFC Ergo b) FebriEye e) Max Bupa c) FocusEYE Q.194) Who authored the biography of d) BullsEye DadabhaiNaoroji titled “Naoroji Pioneer of e) TrackEYE Indian Nationalism”? Q.191) What is India rank in World a) Dinyar Patel Competitive Index released by Institute for b) Dinesh Kumar Management Development? c) Aditya Roy a) 34th d) Vimalnath b) 47th e) RomilaThapar c) 77th Q.195) What is India’s rank in case of foreign d) 43rd investment in 2019 as per UNCTAD? e) 19th a) 12th Q.192) ______won the Prince Albert II b) 9th of Monaco Foundation's Biodiversity Award is c) 18th an NGO based in Hyderabad. d) 5th a) Tropical Research & Development Centre e) 16th (TRDC) Q.196) Who has been made the brand b) Annamrita Foundation ambassador of Khadi in Bihar ? c) Society For Child Development a) Shahid Kapoor d) Deccan Development Society b) Amitabh Bachan e) Adarsh Charitable Trust c) Anushka Sharma Q.193) Which insurance company has d) Manoj Bajpai launched the country’s First drone cover to e) Pankaj Tripathi

Q.197) Recently, Who has become the e) Maharashtra founding member of the Global Partnership Q.201) Which of the following state launched for Artificial Intelligence? a Portal Named ‘Karmo Bhumi’ to help IT a) Israel professionals? b) China a) Rajasthan c) Japan b) Bihar d) Germany c) West Bengal e) India d) Maharashtra Q.198) Name the Attorney General of India e) Karnataka who got an extension for 1 year by the Central Q.202) What is India’s rank based on number government? of nuclear warheads present in a country, as a) RK Pachananda per SIPRI Yearbook 2020 (US topped with b) KK Venugopal 5800 nuclear warheads) ? c) M S Sahoo a) 9 d) Sivangi b) 43 e) Harsh Kumar Bhanwala c) 6 Q.199) Who has been appointed as the new d) 51 Director of SIDBI? e) 17 a) Rajesh Kumar Q.203) Evariste Ndayishimiye was sworn in as b) Ram Suresh new president of which country? c) Deepti Aggarwal a) Kyrgyzstan d) Devendra Kumar Singh b) Burundi e) Ram Mishra c) Malawi Q.200) Which of the following state has d) Uganda adopted ‘Flatted Factory Model’ to ensure the e) Guyana availability of industrial land? Q.204) Which country has been elected as a a) Kerala non-permanent member of UN Security b) Tamil Nadu Council for a 2 year term? c) Uttar Pradesh a) Australia d) UttaraKhand b) China

c) Japan c) Karur Vysya Bank d) India d) ICICI e) Bolivia e) HDFC Q.205) Who has recently been appointed as Q.209) Which of the following company has the interim CEO of Cricket Australia? recently been awarded as a technology a) Jacquie Fernandez pioneer by the World Economic Forum? b) Kevin Roberts a) Paytm c) Nick Hockley b) Easy Pay d) Paul Parker c) ZestMoney e) John Hamilton d) ThinkNUm Q.206) Who has recently been appointed as e) KrazyBee the Chief Technology Officer of PayU ? Q.210) Indian Railways installs first a) Neeta Sharma ‘Automated Ticket Checking & Managing b) Manush Goel Access’ in which railway station? c) Karan Mukherjee a) Nagpur railway station d Shantanu Preetam b) Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station e) Aakash Moondhra c) Secunderabad railway station Q.207) Name the former supreme court judge d) Ghaziabad railway station has received a one-year extension as the e) Pune railway station ethics officer of BCCI? Q.211) Asian Youth Para Games to be held in a) Chettan Singh ______from December 2021. b) DK Jain a) Mexico c) AK Sikri b) Bahrain d) Rajan Singh c) Australia e) Purwar Singh d) India Q.208) Maruti Suzuki has partnered with e) China which bank to roll out simple and flexible Q.212) Which of the following football club financing schemes for new customers? clinched its eighth straight Bundesliga title? a) Axis Bank a) Manchester United b) Kotak Mahindra Bank b) Barcelona

c) Bayern Munich a) KARONA-LAB d) Real Madrid b) Mob-LAB e) Juventus c) I-LAB Q.213) Which state has topped the list in the d) Saftey- LAB country to provide employment to workers e) Quick-LAB under MGNREGA ? Q.217) Which of the following state has a) Maharashtra observed June 18, 2020 as Mask day? b) Gujarat a) Kerala c) Haryana b) Tamil Nadu d) Madhya Pradesh c) Uttar Pradesh e) Uttar Pradesh d) Karnataka Q.214) Volkan Bozkir who has been elected e) Gujarat as the President of the 75th UNGA belongs to Q.218) RBI proposed to increase minimum which of the following countries? Net owned funds (NOF) of Housing finance a) Egypt companies from 10 Crores to _____ Crores. b) Turkey a) 45 c) Russia b) 25 d) Nigeria c) 20 e) Kenya d) 35 Q.215) Which of the following banks e) 15 partnered with General Sompo Life Insurance Q.219) Name the affordable housing loan to provide health insurance? scheme launched by ICICI Home Finance a) Bank of Baroda launched? b) State Bank of India a) THOORAL c) Karnataka Bank b) MONEY d) Canara Bank c) SARAL e) Union Bank of India d) DEPOSIT Q.216) Name The India’s first mobile e) LIFE SAVE laboratory for COVID-19 that was launched by Q.220) Kubatbek Boronov was appointed as Harsh Vardhan? the president of which country?

a) Afghanistan a) Raj Kumar b) Tajikistan b) Anand Sharma c) Kyrgyzstan c) Vishwavir Ahuja d) Uzbekistan d) Chandra Prakash Joshi e) Kazakhstan e) Prakash Chandra Q.221) Name the famous economists from Q.225) Which team has beaten Juventus India was awarded the Peace Prize of the during penalties to win the sixth Italian Cup in German Book Trade? Rome? a) Abhijit Banerjee a) Barcelona b) Amartya Sen b) Real Madrid c) Kaushik Basu c) Napoli d) Raghuram Rajan d) Liverpool e) Manmohan Singh e) Manchester United Q.222) K R Sachidanandan who passed away Q.226) Which of the following IITs in recently was a/an ______. association with RR Animal Healthcare Ltd has a) Actor developed an affordable diagnostic kit for b) Film Director COVID-19? c) Economist a) IIT Madras d) Politician b) IIT Guwahati e) Journalist c) IIT Mandi Q.223) A Novel named ‘The Burning’ authored d) IIT Hyderabad by______? e) IIT Mandi a) Mirza Singh Q.227) Name the portal launched by the b) Nikita Lalwani Minister of Coals for Atma-Nirbhar Bharat in c) Sujatha Gidla Mining Advancement? d) Megha Majumdar a) SATYAMBHAMA e) Neel Mukherjee b) CHAMPIONS Q.224) The RBI has approved the re- c) RAJSHAKTHI appointment of who among the following as d) JALJEEVAN the non-executive Chairman of RBL Bank? e) MOUNTAIN

Q.228) IM Vijayan who has been b) IIT Madras recommended for the Padma Shri award is c) IIT Kanpur related with which sport? d) IIT Guwahati a) Boxing e) IIT Hyderabad b) Football Q.232) Which of the following former c) Hockey governors of the RBI to be appointed as the d) Cricket Chairman of National Institute of Public e) Wrestling Finance and Policy (NIPFP) ? Q.229) PM Modi is all set to launch which a) Venugopal Rao scheme in a bid to boost livelihood b) Raghuram Rajan opportunities in rural India and empower rural c) Urjit Patel citizens? d) Bimal Jalan a) Employment Saving Yojana Abhiyan e) Manmohan Singh b) Urban and Rural Rojgar Yojana Q.233) Which of the following pair has been c) Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan appointed as the brand ambassadors of JSW d) Rural Employment Scheme Cement? e) Garib Kalyan Scheme a) Sunil Chetri and Katrin Kaif Q.230) ______is the head of the Sebi panel b) Virat Kohli and Tamanna Bhatia formed to strengthen enforcement c) Sunil Chhetri and Rohit Sharma mechanism in a bid to recover siphoned off d) Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Chhetri money? e) Sourav Ganguly and M S Dhoni a) Uday Kotak Q.234) Which of the following IIT and General b) Aditya Puri Electric tie-up to build a next-gen combustor c) Sunil Mehta for small aircraft and helicopter engines? d) Pankaj Sharma a) IIT Mandi e) Anil Dave b) IIT Madras Q.231) Which of the following IITs developed c) IIT Kanpur infusion technology for herbs in the mid- d) IIT Guwahati Himalayan region to help farmers? e) IIT Hyderabad a) IIT Mandi

Q.235) Who has been selected to the panel of d) Hendrik von Kuenheim International Tennis Federation? e) Rudratej Singh a) Harsh Mankad Q.239) Who among the following has taken b) Niki Poonacha over the chief of The Professional Risk c) Mahesh Bhupathi Managers’ International Association? d) Leander Paes a) Vasu Mahendru e) Sriram Balaji b) Gurman Singh Q.236) Which state has emerged as champion c) Sudesh Mehta in the procurement of Minor Forest Produces d) Neeraj Sinha under the Minimum Support Price for MFP e) Nirakar Pradhan Scheme? Q.240) Who among the following is set to join a) Arunachal Pradesh the Catholic Syrian Bank after leaving Axis b) Uttarakhand Bank? c) Himachal Pradesh a) Anand Kumar d) Chhattisgarh b) Sushil Kumar e) Uttar Pradesh c) Pralay Mondal Q.237) As per the data from the US Treasury d) Praveen Kumar Department, India became ______largest e) Rajeev Bhatia holder of US government securities at the end Q.241) Which of the following has become of 2020 April. India’s first firm to hit the Rs.11 trillion a) 15th market cap? b) 12th a) IOC c) 10th b) HPCL d) 11th c) Tata Capital e) 13th d) Reliance Industries Q.238) Who has been appointed as the BMW e) ONGC India President? Q.242) Who among the following has won the a) Kenichi Ayukawa World Stars Sharjah Online? b) Vikram Pawah a) Rahim Gasimov c) Guenter Butschek b) Carlos Alberto

c) Radosław Wojtaszek a) Bharat Petroleum Corporation d) Pentala Harikrishna b) Coal India Limited e) Shakhriyar Mamedyarov c) Steel Authority of India Q.243) Who among the following has been d) Bharat Heavy Electricals appointed as India’s next envoy to e) National Thermal Power Corporation Zimbabwe? Limited a) Ram Suresh Q.247) Which IIT has partnered with United b) Raja Sharma Nations’ World Food Programme (UN-WFP) c) Vijay Khanduja India to offer research-based solution to d) Rajiv Singh storage, supply of food grains? e) Sunil Mehta a) IIT Mandi Q.244) Hyundai Motor India has partnered b) IIT Kanpur with which Bank to offer online car loans on c) IIT Delhi Click to Buy? d) IIT Hyderabad a) UCO Bank e) IIT Calcutta b) Axis Bank Q.248) Which of the following state c) SBI government is all set to launch a 100-day job d) ICICI guarantee scheme for the urban poor? e) HDFC a) Haryana Q.245) Who has been re-nominated by the b) Jharkhand Central government as a part-time non- c) Kerala official director of the RBI ? d) Uttar Pradesh a) Harsh Kumar Bhanwala e) Madhya Pradesh b) Saurabh Chowdry Q.249) Name the newly launched loan c) N.Chandrasekaran product of Karnataka Bank for MSMEs? d) Ajay Kumar b) KBL Micro Mitra e) Farida Khamabat c) KBL MSME Mitr Q.246) Which PSU has partnered with NITI d) KBL Sahaaayata Mitra Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to e) KBL Micro Product boost innovation ecosystem in India?

Q.250) Who has been appointed as the new Q.254) Who among the following will join the Chairman of Gem and Jewellery Export Russia-India-China trilateral virtual Promotion Council? conference from India? a) Vipul Sharma a) Amit Shah b) Chandra kumar b) S Jaishankar c) Rabi Sankar c) Rajnath Singh d) N Rajendran d) G Kishan Reddy e) Colin Shah e) Narendra Modi Q.251) Which of the following bank has Q.255) Who among the following has been partnered with Affordplan to launch ‘Swasth appointed as the CFO of Standard Chartered Card’ a co-branded cashless health care card? bank? a) Axis Bank a) Ramesh Chanda b) Yes Bank b) Rudra Singh c) HDFC c) Gaurav Maheshwari d) SBI d) Anand Rajesh e) ICICI e) Surinder Sharma Q.252) Who has won 2020 peace prize of the Q.256) 36th ASEAN Summit is being hosted German Book Trade? in which country and will take place by a) Amartya Sen teleconference? b) Ram Singh a) Japan c) Sangeetha b) Philippines d) Jagdish Kumar c) Vietnam e) Pradeep Rajhan d) Cambodia Q.253) Who authored the book titled” Legend e) Spain of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India”? Q.257) India retained its position as the a) Amitav Gosh ______largest economy in the world in b) Rahul Sharma terms of Purchasing Power Parity As per the c) Amish Tripathi World Bank data for the reference year 2017. d) Vinit Goenka a) 4th e) N Jaishanker b) 5th

c) 7th for the poor to ensure that ‘no one sleeps d) 3rd hungry’ in the state? e) 2nd a) Jharkhand Q.258) Name the platform which was b) Rajasthan launched by HRD ministry to help in c) Tripura systematically assimilating technologies in d) Odisha higher education institutions? e) Assam a) YUKTI 2.0 Q.262) Which state government is preparing b) SHAKTHI 3.0 to start a ‘Play little, Study little’ scheme for c) GAURUDA 2.0 school students? d) PRAFUL 2.0 a) Assam e) BHAKTHI 3.0 b) Sikkim Q.259) Who among the following is the only c) Nagaland Indian featured among top global d) Mizoram philanthropists of 2020? e) Tripura a) Ranjan Singh Q.263) What will be the contraction in India’s b) Nita Ambani GDP in 2020 as per estimation of Moody’s? c) Ratan Tata a) 4.2% d) Azim Premji b) 4.7% e) Rahul Bajaj c) 3.1% Q.260) Pournima Zanane who passed away d) 3.5% recently was a former ______. e) 2.9% a) Wrestler Q.264) Which IIT have created a chip named b) Boxer ‘Dhruva’ that can be mounted in smartphones c) Footballer and navigation devices to find places and d) Shooter routes within the country? e) Cricketer a) IIT Madras Q.261) Which of the following state b) IIT Delhi government will launch the Indira Rasoi Yojna c) IIT Bombay d) IIT Gandhinagar

e) IIT Kharagpur d) Rajesh kumar Q.265) Which of the following financial e) Vikram Sirohi services corporation will buy Finicity for a Q.269) Which of the following state purchase price of USD 825 million? government has partnered with Reliance Jio a) American Express Tv to educate students? b) Visa Cards a) Karnataka c) Mastercard b) Maharashtra d) Scotiabank c) Kerala e) JPMorgan Chase d) Haryana Q.266) Who organized India's one the largest e) Himachal Pradesh 1st Virtual Healthcare & Hygiene EXPO 2020? Q.270) Who has won Maharashtra a) NASSCOM government’s Sangeetacharya Annasaheb b) FIEO Kirloskar musical theatre lifetime c) FICCI achievement award 2019-20? d) CII a) Gulabbai Sangamnerkar e) ASSOCHAM b) Kailash Prakash Q.267) Who among the following has c) Madhuvanti Dandekar launched the FICCI-FLO initiative d) Irfan Khan ‘Empowering the Greater 50%’ to empower e) Karanjit Kaur women? Q.271) What will be India’s GDP in FY21 as a) Nirmala Sitharaman per India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) ? b) Amit Shah a) 6.1% c) Smriti Irani b) 3.7% d) G Kishan Reddy c) 5.9% e) Narendra Modi d) 2.8% Q.268) Who has been appointed as the 15th e) 5.3% director of the National Science Foundation? Q.272) Which of the following institutions has a) Christian Nicolas developed Nanozymes that destroys the cell b) Sunil Sharma membrane of bacteria? c) Sethuraman Panchanathan a) IIT Kanpur

b) IIT Madras Answer Key c) IIT Hyderabad 1. a, 2. c, 3. a, 4. e, 5. c, 6. a, 7. d, 8. e, 9. d) IISC, Bengaluru d, 10. a, 11. a, 12. a, 13. a, 14. e, 15. b, 16. e) IIT Mandi d, 17. d, 18. b, 19. a, 20. e, 21. e, 22. d, 23. Q.273) Name the Indian-origin chief of the a, 24. b, 25. c, 26. d, 27. e, 28. c, 29. c, 30. London Stock Exchange who has been a, 31. d, 32. d, 33. a, 34. e, 35. b, 36. d, 37. appointed as CEO to UK’s financial regulator. c, 38. b, 39. c, 40. d, 41. b, 42. c, 43. c, 44. a) Ragner Lothbrack e, 45. b, 46. d, 47. b, 48. c, 49. e, 50. d, 51. b) Rishi Kapoor b, 52. b, 53. b, 54. a, 55. a, 56. c, 57. b, 58. c) Nikhil Rathi b, 59. c, 60. c, 61. b, 62. b, 63. d, 64. a, 65. d) Anand Kumar c, 66. b, 67. c, 68. c, 69. c, 70. a, 71. d, 72. e) Manpreet Singh b, 73. d, 74. c, 75. b, 76. c, 77. c, 78. b, 79. Q.274) Recently, Kushinagar Airport declared d, 80. d, 81. c, 82. c, 83. b, 84. d, 85. c, 86. as an International Airport. It located which of b, 87. e, 88. b, 89. d, 90. b, 91. c, 92. d, 93. the following state? c, 94. c, 95. c, 96. c, 97. e, 98. e, 99. c, 100. a) Uttar Pradesh c, 101. d, 102. d, 103. e, 104. a, 105. c, 106. b) Maharashtra e, 107. b, 108. a, 109. c, 110. c, 111. a, 112. c) Himachal Pradesh b, 113. b, 114. d, 115. b, 116. e, 117. b, 118. d) West Bengal b, 119. b, 120. d, 121. c, 122. e, 123. c, 124. e) Gujarat c, 125. c, 126. e, 127. c, 128. e, 129. e, 130. Q.275) Cabinet approved _____ Interest a, 131. a, 132. c, 133. e, 134. d, 135. e, 136. Subvention On ‘Shishu’ MUDRA loans for a a, 137. c, 138. d, 139. e, 140. c, 141. b, 142. period of 12 months? b, 143. b, 144. e, 145. a, 146. a, 147. c, 148. a) 5% b, 149. c, 150. d, 151. c, 152. c, 153. b, 154. b) 6% d, 155. e, 156. b, 157. b, 158. e, 159. c, 160. c) 2% c, 161. d, 162. c, 163. e, 164. c, 165. c, 166. d) 7% e, 167. c, 168. c, 169. b, 170. d, 171. d, 172. e) 3% b, 173. a, 174. b, 175. b, 176. c, 177. c, 178. c, 179. b, 180. e, 181. b, 182. b, 183. b, 184. e, 185. c, 186. a, 187. e, 188. c, 189. b, 190.

b, 191. d, 192. d, 193. d, 194. a, 195. b, 196. BANKING AWARENESS QUIZ: e, 197. e, 198. b, 199. d, 200. c, 201. c, 202. c, 203. b, 204. d, 205. c, 206. d, 207. b, 208. Q.1) A profit from the sale of property or an c, 209. c, 210. a, 211. b, 212. c, 213. e, 214. investment is called ______. b, 215. c, 216. c, 217. d, 218. c, 219. c, 220. a) Business Gain c, 221. b, 222. b, 223. d, 224. e, 225. c, 226. b) Capital Gain b, 227. a, 228. b, 229. c, 230. e, 231. a, 232. c) Net Gain c, 233. d, 234. b, 235. b, 236. d, 237. b, 238. d) Gross Gain b, 239. e, 240. c, 241. d, 242. e, 243. c, 244. e) None of these e, 245. c, 246. b, 247. c, 248. b, 249. b, 250. Q.2) A bank or financial institution that b, 251. b, 252. a, 253. c, 254. b, 255. c, 256. processes credit or debit card payments on c, 257. d, 258. a, 259. b, 260. d, 261. b, 262. behalf of a merchant is called ______e, 263. c, 264. c, 265. c, 266. c, 267. c, 268. a) Lending Bank c, 269. d, 270. c, 271. e, 272. d, 273. c, 274. b) Sponsored Bank a, 275. c c) Acquiring Bank

d) All of the above

e) None of these

Q.3) The nominal value of a security stated by

the issuer is called as ______a) Par Value b) Sell Value c) Market Value d) Face Value

e) None of these

Q.4) Which committee established by the

Central Bank governors of the Group of ten

countries in 1974 that seeks to improve the

supervisory guidelines that central banks or similar authorities impose on both wholesale and retail banks?

a) BASEL Committee a) Capital Fund Ratio b) FEDERAL Committee b) Capital Risk Ratio c) UNION Committee c) Capital Profit Ratio d) SWIFT Committee d) Capital Adequacy Ratio e) None of these e) None of these Q.5) Property that a borrower offers a lender Q.9) A value which exists as part of to secure a loan is called as ______something, such as the value of an option is a) Mortgage called as ______b) Sponsor a) Market Value c) Gift b) Face Value d) Bilateral c) Par Value e) Collateral d) Sell Value Q.6) One hundredth of one percentage point, e) Intrinsic Value basically used in expressing differences of Q.10) The first sale of stock by a private interest rates, which is known as? company to the public is called a) Interest Point ______b) Nominal Point a) Junk Bond c) Basis Point b) Offer Bond d) Base Point c) Primary Bond e) None of these d) Initial Bond Q.7) The portion of a company’s profit e) None of these allocated to each outstanding share of Q.11) The suspension of repayment of Debt, common stock is called as ______or Interest, for a specified period of time is a) Value per share called as ______b) Earnings per Share a) Bounce c) Price per share b) Moratorium d) Demand per share c) Mortgage e) None of these d) Suspension Q.8) ______is the ratio of a bank’s e) None of these capital to its risk

Q.12) Which value is called as nominal value d) Interest of a bond? e) Provisioning a) Market Value Q.16) DRT stands for ______b) Face Value a) Debt Recovery Tribunals c) Sell Value b) Debit Revenue Tribunals d) Par Value c) Debt Reforms Tribunals e) None of these d) Debt Recovery Trade Q.13) The gain/loss on an investment, e) None of these expressed as a percentage increase over the Q.17) ALM stands for ______initial investment cost, over a specified period a) Adequacy Liability Management is called as ______b) Asset Liquidity Management a) Rate of Return c) Asset Liability Management b) Dividend d) Asset Legislative Management c) Earnings e) None of these d) Profit Q.18) CPI stands for ______e) None of these a) Credit Price Index Q.14) ______is a kind of charge created b) Capital Purchase Index when the lender takes actual possession of c) Customer Price Index assets d) Consumer Price Index a) Mortgage e) None of these b) Hypothecation Q.19) LAF stands for ______c) Pledge a) Liability Adjustment Facility d) Appraisal b) Loan Adequacy Facility e) None of these c) Liquidity Adjustment Facility Q.15) Which can be defined as loss in the d) Liquidity Adequacy Facility profit and loss account while finalizing e) None of these accounts of banks? Q.20) NPA stands for ______a) Loan a) Net Performing Asset b) Bad Debt b) Non Programming Asset c) Purchase c) Net Programming Asset

d) Non Performing Asset b) Computer/laptop e) None of these c) Both Mobile and Computer Q.21) Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a d) Telephones digital payment architecture rolled out by e) None of these ______Q.25) Unified Payments Interface is regulated a) Reserve Bank of India by ______b) State Bank of India a) NABARD c) Securities and Exchange Board of India b) State Bank of India d) National Payments Corporation of India c) SEBI e) None of these d) IRDAI Q.22) In which year Unified Payments e) RBI Interface was launched? Q.26) The limit on transaction through UPI a) 2015 system is ______b) 2016 a) 25000 c) 2014 b) 50000 d) 2017 c) 1,00,000 e) None of these d) 2,00,000 Q.23) Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a e) None of these system that powers ______a) single bank accounts into a multiple mobile Q.27) What are the working hours for UPI? application a) Only on working days b) multiple bank accounts into a multiple b) 24×7, 365 days mobile application c) Only working hours time on working days c) multiple bank accounts into a single mobile d) All days except Sunday application e) None of these d) single bank accounts into a single mobile Q.28) Unified Payments Interface eliminates application the need to share your ______e) None of these a) Name Q.24) UPI works only on ______b) Bank Account a) Mobile/Tablet c) IFSC Code

d) Bank branch b) Reverse Repo Rate e) All of the above c) Cash Reserve Ratio Q.29) UPI can also be used to send a request d) Bank Rate for money, like ______e) None of these a) Invoice Q.33) ______is the ability of b) Receipt converting an investment quickly into cash c) Loan with no loss in value d) Deposit a) Bancassurance e) None of these b) Capitalization Q.30) UPI is launched by NPCI with RBI’s c) Deficit vision of migrating Indian economy towards a d) Marketing ______e) Liquidity a) less-cash and less digital society Q.34) ______is similar to retail b) more-cash and more digital society banking with a slight difference that it mainly c) more-cash and less digital society focuses on the financial needs of the d) less-cash and more digital society institutional clients and the industry e) None of these a) Rural Banking Q.31) ______is a loan that is made b) Net Banking for a very short period of a few days only with c) Wholesale Banking a low rate of interest d) Commercial Banking a) Call Money e) None of these b) Notice Money Q.35) ______is an increase in the c) Term Money quantity of money in circulation without any d) All of the above corresponding increase in goods thus leading e) None of these to an abnormal rise in the price level Q.32) ______is the rate at which a) Capitalization RBI borrows money from banks when it feels b) Deflation there is too much money floating in the c) Privatization banking system d) Inflation a) Repo Rate e) None of these

Q.36) Internet banking is sometimes known d) Interest Rate as ______e) Repo Rate a) Indirect Banking Q.40) ______is the amount of b) Direct Banking Funds borrowed by the government to meet c) Offline Banking the expenditures d) Virtual Banking a) Deflation e) None of these b) Statutory Liquidity Ratio Q.37) ______is a financial ratio c) Fiscal Deficit which gives us an idea or a measure of a d) Inflation company’s ability to meet its financial losses e) None of these a) Current Ratio Q.41) ______is a kind of security b) Leverage Ratio which one offers for taking an advance or loan c) Depreciation Ratio from someone d) Average Ratio a) Hypothecation e) None of these b) Pledge Q.38) When financial institutions and banks c) Mortgage undertake activities related to banking like d) Liquidity investment, issue of debit and credit card etc e) None of these then it is known as ______Q.42) Rate of interest at which a bank gives a) Universal Banking loan to its most reliable customer is called b) Rural Banking ______c) Retail Banking a) Basic Lending Rate d) Net Banking b) High Lending Rate e) None of these c) Low Lending Rate Q.39) Commercial banks borrow funds by the d) Average Lending Rate RBI if there is any shortage in the form of e) Prime Lending Rate rupees, it is called as ______Q.43) ______is the amount of funds a) Reverse Repo Rate that a bank keeps with the RBI. If the b) Cash Reserve Ratio percentage of CRR increases then the amount c) Bank Rate with the bank comes down

a) Statutory Liquidity Ratio c) Neutral b) Cash Reserve Ratio d) Non c) Average Ratio e) None of these d) Bank Asset Ratio Q.48) In CIBIL, “B” stands for ______e) None of these a) Balance Q.44) ______is the time when a b) Board company makes the first offering of the c) Bureau shares to the public d) Banking a) Market Selling e) None of these b) Open Selling Q.49) In CRISIL, “R” stands for ______c) Direct Selling a) Reconstruction d) Initial Public Offering b) Ratio e) None of these c) Rating Q.45) Doing banking from a cubicle from d) Revenue which food, newspapers, tickets, etc are also e) None of these sold is called ______Q.50) In BPLR, “P” stands for ______a) Kiosk Banking a) Purchase b) Universal banking b) Positive c) Net Banking c) Power d) Virtual Banking d) Prime e) None of these e) None of these Q.46) In SWIFT, “I” stands for ______a) Secure Answer Key b) Social 1. b, 2. c, 3. d, 4. a, 5. e, 6. c, 7. b, 8. d, 9. c) State e, 10. a, 11. b, 12. d, 13. a, 14. c, 15. e, 16. d) Security a, 17. c, 18. d, 19. c, 20. d, 21. d, 22. b, 23. e) Society c, 24. a, 25. e, 26. c, 27. b, 28. e, 29. a, 30. Q.47) In FINO, “N” stands for ______d, 31. a, 32. b, 33. e, 34. c, 35. d, 36. d, 37. a) Net b, 38. a, 39. e, 40. c, 41. c, 42. e, 43. b, 44. b) Network d, 45. a, 46. e, 47. b, 48. c, 49. b, 50. d