Monthly Current TitleAffairs Capsule & Quiz June 2020 Title

He along with his family have tested positive for coronavirus.

 The country with a population of 3 million has been hit by the novel coronavirus. They have recorded 9,492 cases and 139 deaths so World Milk Day: 01 June far.  The hospitals in Armenia have faced a setback ever since the virus broke out in the country.  Due to the shortage of space, their intensive care could be soon restricted to patients with the best chance of surviving the virus.

World Bicycle Day: 3 June

World Milk Day is observed on June 1 in order to celebrate the dairy sector and recognise the importance of milk as a global food.

 The day was founded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.  This year marks the 20th anniversary of World Milk Day.  This year’s theme is “20th Anniversary of World Bicycle Day is observed on June 3. World Milk Day”.

 The day is celebrated to lay emphasis on the Armenian PM Pashinyan tests positive for benefits of cycling. coronavirus  Riding a bicycle is not only good for one’s health but is also good for the environment.  As per the World Health Organization (WHO), safe infrastructure for walking and cycling is also a step towards achieving greater health equity.  This is the third anniversary of World Bicycle Day, which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in April 2018.

Tropical storm Amanda kills 20 in Central American countries

Tropical Storm Amanda has killed at least 20 people Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he in Central America, most of whom in El Salvador. had tested positive for the novel coronavirus

 The storm had dumped the equivalent of  This day affirms the UN’s commitment to "almost 10 percent" of the annual rainfall on guard the rights of children. the country in a relatively short space of time.  This day is to acknowledge the pain suffered  The storm came as the country of some 6.6 by children throughout the planet who are the million people is grappling with the impact of victims of physical, mental and emotional the coronavirus pandemic. abuse.  The main aim of celebrating today is to France assures timely delivery of Rafale aircraft spread the notice about the pain and to India sufferings faced by the victims as children.

World Environment Day: 5 June

France reaffirmed its commitment to ensure timely delivery of Rafale Aircraft to India despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. World Environment Day is observed globally on 5th June every year.  The IAF is likely to get the delivery of the first batch of four Rafale jets from France by  It is celebrated every year to spread July-end. awareness and to make people understand  The four fighters were supposed to fly to their that they have a role to play in preventing the home base in India in May 2020, but the plan loss of biodiversity and preserving nature for was delayed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. our future.  Dassault Aviation had handed over the first  The day was first observed in 1974 in the city of 36 Rafale aircraft, which India had ordered of Spokane in the USA to raise awareness in 2016, during a visit by Singh to France last about the importance of protecting the year. environment.  India had signed an inter-governmental  World Environment Day is hosted by a agreement with France in September 2016 for different country. And this year, the host is procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost Columbia. of around ₹58,000 crore.  The theme for World Environment Day 2020: Celebrate Biodiversity International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression: 4 June World Economic Forum to host Unique Twin Summit in 2021 International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed globally on 4th June every The World Economic Forum will host a Unique year. Twin Summit in January, 2021.

 The twin summit will be both in-person as well as virtual, hence connecting key global governmental and business leaders in Davos.  The theme of the summit will be “The Great Reset”. The summit will bring together the key global government and business leaders in Davos and the Great Reset dialogue will push beyond the boundaries of traditional thinking.

 WEF will also draw on thousands of young people from more than 400 cities worldwide, The United Nations celebrates Russian Language who will be interconnected with a powerful Day every year on 6 June. virtual hub network in order to interact with the leaders in Davos.  The day is observed to raise awareness of the history, culture and development of each of India participates in UK-led virtual Global the six official languages of the UN: Arabic, Vaccine Summit Russian, Spanish, Chinese, English and French.  Russian Language Day is celebrated on the birthday of the great Russian poet A.S. Pushkin.

World Food Safety Day: 07 June

India participated in the virtual Global Vaccine Summit 2020 hosted by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

 India was represented by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the summit.  The virtual Global Vaccine Summit 2020 featured the participation of over 50 countries World Food Safety Day is observed every year on 07 including the business leaders, civil society, June. government ministers, UN agencies, Heads of State and country leaders.  It is celebrated to draw attention and inspire  During the virtual summit, India pledged a action to help prevent, detect and manage contribution of 15 Million US Dollars to foodborne risks, contributing to food Gavi, the international vaccine alliance. security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and Russian Language Day: 6 June sustainable development.  This day was launched by the United Nations in 2019.  The day is celebrated to reinforce the call made by the Geneva Conference and Addis

Ababa Conference in 2019 on “The Future of Food Safety”.  2020 theme: Food Safety, Everyone’s Business

US: Joe Biden becomes Democratic presidential nominee

Member countries of the Group of 20 pledged more than $21 billion to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

 The G20, with invited countries, has coordinated the global efforts to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.  To date, G20 members and invited countries have pledged over $21 billion to support funding in global health. Former US Vice President Joe Biden, has formally  The announcement comes after the G20 become the Democratic presidential nominee to run countries injected more than $5 trillion into for the White House against President Donald Trump the global economy in late March to fight the in the elections in November this year. virus and its economic impact.  At the time, the G20 leaders also asked the  Biden took his tally of pledged delegates over World Bank and the International Monetary the halfway mark of 1,991 from a total of Fund "to support countries in need using all 3,979, becoming eligible to earn the instruments to the fullest extent. Democratic Party's presidential nomination.  The veteran Democrat served as the 47th vice World Oceans Day: 8 June president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 during the presidency of Barack Obama.  Biden has been consistently supportive of the India-US relations. As a Senator, he had voted to approve the landmark civilian nuclear deal between the two countries in 2008.

G20 countries pledge over $21 billion to fund fight COVID-19 pandemic

World Ocean Day is observed globally on 8th June every year.

 This day is observed to raise global awareness about the importance of the ocean

in our lives and the ways through which we can protect it.  The government of Canada had proposed the concept of World Ocean Day, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.  The theme of UN World Oceans Day 2020 is “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.”

OPEC & its allies agree to cut oil production by about 10% till July Tropical Storm Cristobal has reached the southeastern United States, bringing heavy rains and sustained winds of up to 50 mph.

 Storm surge warnings have been issued for the southeast coast of Louisiana as well as the Mississippi coast.  Cristobal is the third named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.  If the storm maintains its current track, Mississippi could be the state hardest hit. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries  Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (OPEC) and allied nations have agreed to extend a declared a state of emergency ahead of the production cut of nearly 10 million barrels of oil a tropical storm and some communities in day through the end of July, hoping to boost energy Mississippi and Louisiana have been ordered prices hard hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. to evacuate.  Phillips said that winds will likely top out at  Ministers of the cartel and outside nations around 50 miles per hour, with the strongest like Russia met via video conference to adopt likely to come around the Mississippi coast. the measure, aimed at cutting out the excess production depressing prices as global World Accreditation Day: 9 June aviation remains largely grounded due to the pandemic.  It represents some 10 percent of the world's overall supply.  Algerian Oil Minister Mohamed Arkab, the current OPEC president, warned attendees that the global oil inventory would soar to 1.5 billion barrels by the mid-point of this year.

Tropical Storm Cristobal Hits Louisiana, Mississippi Coasts

The World Accreditation Day (WAD) is celebrated World Day Against Child Labour: 12 June globally on 9th June every year to highlight and promote the role of accreditation in trade & economy.

 Accreditation has an important role in food safety, by ensuring competent and impartial inspection, certification and testing services in all parts of local, national and international food chains.  Accreditation can be applied to a wide variety of assessment, approval or evaluation tasks Every year on June 12, the World Day Against and is used by business, government and Child Labour is observed on June 12 in almost regulators to help deliver a safer world. 100 countries all around the globe.  2020 theme: “Accreditation: Improving Food Safety”.  According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are about 152 Myanmar military to use Facebook to counter million children globally who are 'misinformation' engaged in child labour, 72 million of whom are in hazardous work.  The ILO launched World Day Against Child Labour in 2002  As per the United Nation's website, World Day Against Child Labour 2020 focuses on the impact of the crisis on child labour.

ISRO to organize online ISRO Cyberspace Competitions-2020

Myanmar military ‘Tatmadaw’ has decided to use Facebook again to provide ‘accurate’ news to people.

 This was announced by the Tatmadaw spokesperson Zaw Min Tun in Myanmar.  The military has decided to use the popular social media platform to counter fake news and misinformation and provide accurate news to people swiftly, reports Irrawady.  Facebook had removed several accounts The Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO will linked to the Myanmar military in 2018. organize the online ISRO Cyberspace Competitions-  While removing the accounts on August 28, 2020 to ignite young minds in the country. 2018 the Facebook had said that they removed 425 Facebook pages, 17 groups and  The ICC-2020 online competition will 135 Facebook accounts and 15 Instagram involve drawing competition for Class 1 to 3 accounts linked to the Myanmar military as students, model making competition for evidence suggested that they had committed Class 4 to 8 and Essay competition for Class serious human rights violations in Myanmar. 9 and 10th students.

 For the students of class 11 and 12, essay In Uttar Pradesh, the State Government has competition is organized with space quiz successfully installed Tru NAAT machines in all contests in Hindi and English. 75 districts.

HRD Minister releases NIRF ranking; IIT  The state has also increased it's testing Madras tops the overall list capacity and yesterday tested 15,000 plus samples. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has set the target to achieve 20 thousand COVID testing per day in this month.  The Tru NAAT machines installed at each and every district of state will help in getting early results of the tests and with the help of ANC, Pre-surgical and severe acute respiratory infections SARI Cases may be tested for COVID at all districts now. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras is the best higher education institution in the country, according International Albinism Awareness Day: 13 June to the National Institutional Ranking Framework released by Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

 Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has bagged the second position and IIT Delhi is in the third position.  Miranda House has been chosen as the best International Albinism Awareness Day is celebrated college, followed by Lady Shri Ram and annually on June 13 to celebrate the human rights of Hindu College. persons with albinism worldwide.  IISc, Bangalore has topped universities category in the rankings, followed by  Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Banaras genetically inherited condition found in all Hindu University. countries across the world irrespective of background or culture. UP govt successfully installs Tru NAAT  This dissimilarity is a lack of melanin in the machines in all 75 districts eyes, skin and hair making prone to the sun and bright light.  There is no treatment or cure for the absence of pigmentation that is dominant in albinism.  2020 theme "Made To Shin."

World Blood Donor Day: 14 June

Every year on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD).

 The significance of this event is to celebrate and thank all the blood donors in the world

who have selflessly donated blood and thus  A Swiss company will review the feasibility saved a life unknowingly. study of the railway project submitted by the  It also helps to raise awareness and thus Chinar Railway Eryuan Engineering Group gather more donors to be part of the good (CREEG). deed.  The 430 kilometre long railway project is a  2020 theme: Save Blood Save Lives key component of the China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) which is part of Deforestation hits record high level in five years the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for in Brazil's Amazon rainforest creation of infrastructure spanning the Asia Pacific region.  The 8.9 billion dollar project seeks to connect Kyaukphyu in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State with Kunming via Muse in Shan State through a high speed railway connection.

Nepal Parliament’s Lower House unanimously passes bill to redraw political map

The Brazilian government said that the Amazon rainforest witnessed deforestation of a record 829 sq km in May, the highest monthly level since 2015.

 The deforestation in the Amazon increased by 91 sq km compared to the same period last year.  Between January and April, destruction of the forest by illegal loggers and ranchers rose 55 per cent, or a total of 1,202 sq km was wiped out.. The lower house of Nepal’s parliament  A recent study by the Amazon unanimously passed the historic Second Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) Constitution Amendment Bill guaranteeing legal warned that deforestation in 2020 could status for the updated political map of Nepal which reach 11,900 sq km if the pace of May, June, includes India’s territories in Pithoragarh district. and July follows the historical average.  The Amazon rainforest, covering much of  The voting came after a day-long discussion northwestern Brazil and extending into which also included Maoist leader Colombia, Peru and other South American Prachanda’s praise for the Nepal Communist countries. Party which he said is reversing centuries of diplomatic humiliation of Nepal. Myanmar to scrutinise Chinese BRI Railway  Following this amendment, the region of project Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh located at present in Pithoragarh district of The government of Myanmar has decided to Uttarakhand will be part of the map of Nepal scrutinize the Muse-Mandalay railway project which will be included in Nepal’s national connecting Mandalay with the capital city of emblem. Yunnan province in China. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: 15 June

teamed up with aims to coordinate the events globally and the name was changed to World Wind Day.  Global Wind Day began in Europe in 2007 and globally in 2009.

International Day of Family Remittances 16 June

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed on 15th June every year.

 The principal goal of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is to provide our communities around the globe with an opportunity to get a better knowledge of abuse and neglect of older people.  The day was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011 bypassing the resolution 66/127 of the United Nations following a request from the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). International Day of Family Remittances 2020 aka  2020 theme: "Lifting Up Voices". IDFR is celebrated each year on June 16 across the world. World Wind Day :15th June  The day is organised by the United Nations and is universally accepted.  This day is celebrated to recognise the efforts of migrants who help to improve the lives of their family members back home.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: 17th June

Global Wind Day is a worldwide event that occurs annually on 15 June.

 The event is celebrated to spread awareness about wind energy, the various uses of wind energy, and the ways and possibilities as to how wind energy can help change the world.  EWEA established the day as Wind Day in the year 2007 and later in 2009, EWEA The World Day to Combat Desertification and (European Wind Energy Association) and Drought is a United Nations observance each June GWEC (Global Wind Energy Council) 17.

 Its purpose is to raise awareness of the  As the COVID-19 pandemic is still unfolding presence of desertification and drought, across the globe, sustainable gastronomy - highlighting methods of preventing celebrating seasonal ingredients and desertification and recovering from drought. producers, preserving wildlife as well as our  The World Day to Combat Desertification culinary traditions - is today more relevant And Drought was declared in the United than ever. Nations General Assembly resolution on January 30, 1995, after the United Nations India to send Tri-Services Contingent to Convention to Combat Desertification. participate in Russia’s Victory Day parade  This year the theme for World Day to Combat Desertification And Drought is "Food. Feed. Fibre".

Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Abylgaziev resigns

India will send a 75-member Tri-Service contingent to participate in the military parade in Moscow on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War.

 The parade will honour the heroism and The prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, sacrifices made by the Russian and other Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev, resigned citing a friendly people. corruption probe.  The Defence Minister of Russia had invited an Indian contingent to take part in the  The Kyrgyz parliament raised the issue of the Victory Day Parade scheduled to be held on offer of radio frequencies, which was trailed 24th June. by various representatives requesting  The participation will be a mark of tribute and Abylgaziev demonstrate his honesty against solidarity with the people of Russia at a time charges of debasement. when they remember their heroes of the Great  He was delegated as a leader by President Patriotic War. Sooronbai Jeenbekov in April 2018. International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Sustainable Gastronomy Day: 18 June Violence in Conflict: 19 June

Sustainable Gastronomy Day is observed globally on International Day for the Elimination of Sexual 18th June every year. Violence in Conflict is observed globally on 19th June every year.  This day is observed to acknowledge gastronomy as a cultural expression related to  The day honours all the victims and survivors nature as well as the cultural diversity of the of sexual violence around the world and pays world. tribute to the brave hearts who have devoted and lost their lives in raising voices.

 According to UN, conflict-related sexual violence is defined as a term that "refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys that is directly or indirectly linked (temporally, geographically or causally) to a conflict".

Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's First President, Tests COVID-19 Positive France and India signed an agreement with Paris committing 200 million euros to support Delhi's Covid response.

 Through this loan, France will work with India to increase the state and central governments’ capacities to support the country’s most vulnerable people in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.  The programme design, developed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Indian authorities, seeks to optimize and scale up the Indian Government’s existing social protection measures. First president of Kazakhstan, Elbasy Nursultan  The programme will provide further benefits Nazarbayev tested positive for COVID-19 to low-income families to ensure the health, coronavirus infection. social and economic shocks arising from Covid-19.  The report said that Nazarbayev continues carrying out activities via videoconferencing. World Refugee Day: 20 June  Currently, the First President of Kazakhstan is self-isolating.  The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.  The total number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Kazakhstan since the virus was first confirmed in the country amounted to 15,877 cases.

France commits 200 million Euros for India's COVID response World Refugee Day is celebrated every year on June 20.

 This day is marked to honour the refugees of  Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual the world. practice which originated in India.  Most of us are aware that refugees are forced  The word ‘yoga’ derived from Sanskrit and to leave their house because of issues like means to join or to unite, symbolizing the war, terror attacks, or other crises. union of body and consciousness.  But, leaving their houses and staying away  The theme of International Day of Yoga 2020 from their homes is just the beginning of a is “Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home”. tough and challenging journey.  Many a time these refugees have to adjust in World Hydrography Day : 21 June terrible weather conditions and sometimes also find themselves living in camps until they are shifted to another place.  The theme of World Refugee Day this year is "every action counts."

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day: June 19

World Hydrography Day is observed every year on June 21 every year.

 The day is an annual celebration to publicise the work of hydrographers and the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is celebrated on importance of hydrography. June 19th of each year to raise the public awareness  The International Hydrographic Organization about the sickle cell disease. (IHO) adopted this day and started following it since 2006 on June 21 every year.  World Hydrography Day 2020 theme is  Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that is inherited and passed down from parents to “Hydrography enabling autonomous the child. technologies”  In India, sickle cell disease is more common in south Gujarat, north Maharashtra, Madhya World Music Day : 21 June Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and western Odisha with a smaller concentration in the southern regions in India.

International Day of Yoga: 21 June

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on 21 June since 2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.

World Music Day or Fête de la Musique is celebrated  The first position still remains with the eggs on 21June. of Madagascar’s extinct giant flightless elephant birds.  It is an annual celebration that was founded by Jack Lang and Maurice Fleuret in 1981. Nepalese FM radio stations start giving weather  On this day, musicians perform for free in bulletins of Lipulekh, Kalapani and parks, museums, train stations, castles etc. Limpiyadhura But this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic the day is likely to be celebrated mostly indoors.  World Music Day gives an opportunity to commune and shares a special bond through music.

More than a 66-million-year-old egg found in Antarctica

After Nepal’s parliament endorsed the political map that shows the disputed areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiadora as part of its territory earlier this month, some Nepalese FM radio stations close to India-Nepal border in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh have started giving weather bulletins of these three areas.

 These FM radio stations are located in Darchula district of Nepal and can be heard Scientists have finally resolved the mystery behind in the bordering areas of Dharchula, the 66-million-year-old fossil egg found in Baluakot, Jauljibi and Kalika towns on the Antarctica’s Seymour Island. Indian side in Pithoragarh.  These Nepalese FM stations have started giving information on weather reports of  Some estimates also suggest its age to be 68- million-years. Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura considering these areas as their own  The fossil, which looks like a deflated American football, was kept in a Chilean territories, like India, did recently with PoK. museum and was nicknamed The Thing.  In the first week of May, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had  After much research and analysis, scientists have said that the egg belongs to an extinct started including cities like Muzaffarabad giant sea lizard or snake that lived alongside and Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied the dinosaurs. Kashmir (PoK) in its weather forecasts, stating PoK was part of India.  According to the researchers, the millions year old fossil egg, measuring 29 cm by 20 cm (8 inches by 11 inches), is the second- Indonesia's most active volcano Mount Merapi largest egg in the world. erupts

 The day is widely known to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support that they have.  Several women around the world after losing her life partner faces challenges and do long- term struggle for basic needs, their human right and dignity.  The Loomba Foundation initiated the International Widow’s Day in 2005.

International Olympic Day: 23 June

Indonesia's most volatile volcano spewed ash and hot gas in a massive column as high as 6km (3.7 miles) into the sky.

 Mount Merapi's clouds of ash, accompanied by a rumbling sound heard kilometres (miles) away.  The 2,968-metre (9,737-foot) mountain is the most active of 500 Indonesian volcanoes. It has rumbled and generated dark hot clouds since last year. International Olympic Day is celebrated across the  Its last major eruption in 2010 killed 353 world on June 23 every year. people.  Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million  The Olympic Day was celebrated for the first people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic time ever on 23 June 1948. activity because it sits along the Pacific Ring  The day is observed every year to mark the of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped series of fault importance of games and sports in our lives lines around the ocean. and to promote participation in games and sports across the world, irrespective of age, International Widows’ Day: 23rd June gender, cast or religion.

UNHCR asks Myanmar to ensure safe return of Rohingyas

International Widows Day is observed globally on 23rd June every year.

The United Nations High Commissioner for  The amount would be contributed over the Refugees (UNHCR) has adopted a resolution calling coming two years. upon Myanmar to create conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas International Day in Support of Victims of and all forcibly displaced persons. Torture: 26 June

 Adopting the resolution, UNHCR also stressed the need to address the root cause of human rights violations and abuses against ethnic minorities like Rohingyas in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.  The UNHCR called upon the Myanmar government to allow media, independent observers and diplomatic corps full access to the country.  It also urged the government of Myanmar to lift the internet shutdown imposed in Rakhine state. June 26 marks the International Day in Support of  UNHCR Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland Victims of Torture.  Head: Filippo Grandi  Founded: 14 December 1950  The day is celebrated annually to speak out against the crime of torture and to honour and India pledges $10 million to UNRWA over next support victims and survivors throughout the two years world.  On this day people around the globe pay their respects to those who have suffered the unimaginable torture.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: 26 June

India pledged USD 10 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

 It will also donate life-saving drugs to Palestine to help them in combating the The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit COVID-19 pandemic. Trafficking is observed annually on 26 June, since  The contribution of USD 10 million would be 1989. an additional amount over and above the USD 5 million contribution announced for  The day is observed by the United Nations as year 2020. an expression of its determination to

strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.  Drug abuse does not necessarily include exploitative consumption of drugs such as cocaine, hallucinogens, cannabis, sedative- hypnotics and opiates, but also includes prescription medications such as painkillers, sleeping pills, and tranquilisers.  2020 theme: “Better Knowledge for Better Care”. India has moved down three places to 77th rank in terms of money parked by its citizens and enterprises Russia plans to take first tourist on space walk in with Swiss banks at the end of 2019. 2023  The UK has retained its top position, as per the latest data from Switzerland's central bank.  India was ranked 74th in the previous year.  It accounts for just about 0.06 per cent of the aggregate funds parked by all foreign clients of Switzerland-based banks.  In comparison, the top-ranked UK accounted for close to 27 per cent of the total foreign funds parked with Swiss banks at the end of 2019.  The top-15 countries account for nearly 75

percent of all foreign money in Swiss banks, Russia's Energia space corporation said that it will while the contribution of the top-30 is almost take the first tourist on a space walk in 2023, under 90 per cent. the terms of a new contract with a US partner. Terror financing watchdog FATF decides to  Energia has inked a contract with Space continue Pakistan in Grey List Adventures, which promises to take two space tourists to the International Space Station.  As per the deal, two tourists will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in the year 2023 under the joint agreement of both the companies.  From the end of RSC Energia, one of the two tourists will be able to do a spacewalk together with a cosmonaut from Roscosmos.

Money in Swiss banks: India at 77th place, In a setback for Pakistan, the global terror financing accounts for just 0.06% of all foreign funds watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided to keep Pakistan in the Grey List' for terror financing.

 The decision has been taken as Pakistan has NASA names its headquarters after failed to check the flow of money to terror Mary.W.Jackson, agency’s first African- groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish- American female engineer e-Mohammed (JeM).  The decision was taken at the Financial Action Task Force's third and final plenary held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Now, Pakistan will continue to remain in the Grey List till FATF's next meeting to be held in October.  Now, it will be difficult for Pakistan to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation. NASA is renaming its Washington DC headquarters in honor of the first black female engineer to work at China, Pakistan sign deal over hydel power the American space agency - the 'Mary W. Jackson project under CPEC worth $2.4 billion in PoK NASA Headquarters building.'

 Jackson, a mathematician and aerospace engineer, started her career in the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the agency's Langley Research Center in Virginia.  While working at NASA, Jackson was one of three women who prepared astronaut John Glenn's 1962 orbital mission as the US beat the Soviet Union (USSR) in the space race.  She was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

A tripartite agreement was signed between a Chinese International Day of The Tropics: 29 May company and the governments of Pakistan and China for construction of a 1,124-megawatt hydropower project at Kohala on the Jhelum river at a cost of USD 2.4 billion.

 Pakistan PM termed the agreement "the country's biggest-ever foreign investment".  The Hydropower project is located near the villages of Siran and Barsala in Muzaffarabad district of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

 The project is part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. International Day of the Tropics is observed every  The estimated cost of the project is USD year on June 29 every year. 2,364 million and is expected to be completed by 2026.  The Day aims to raise awareness to the specific challenges faced by tropical areas

and the role that countries in the tropics will play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.  The Tropics are a region of the Earth, roughly defined as the area between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn.  They receive sunlight that is more direct and are generally hotter and wetter with little seasonal change in day-to-day temperature.

 The tropical region faces several challenges such as climate change, urbanisation, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive deforestation, logging and demographic order to prosecute those who damage national changes. monuments, making it a punishable offence with up to 10 years in jail. Malawi Opposition Leader Lazarus Chakwera Wins Presidential Election Re-run  The order comes in the wake of rioters defacing and destroying historical sites, monuments and statues in the country as violence erupted following the brutal custodial death of African-American George Floyd on May 25.  Over the last five weeks, there has been a sustained assault on the life and property of civilians, law enforcement officers, government property and revered American monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial.

Malawi's opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera was Marathon Vote on Extending Putin's Rule until declared the winner of a rerun presidential election. 2036 Begins amid Coronavirus Epidemic

 It is a dramatic reversal of incumbent Peter Mutharika's discredited win 13 months earlier in a process that analysts viewed as a triumph for democracy in Africa.  Chakwera, 65, secured the required majority, with 58.57% of the vote.  Chakwera won election to a five-year term as president of the nation of 18 million people.  Malawi Capital: Lilongwe  Currency: Malawian kwacha

Trump makes vandalising national monuments Russia has begun voting on constitutional reforms punishable offence with up to 10 yrs jail that could allow President Vladimir Putin to serve another two terms in office.

 The official vote is scheduled for 1 July, but authorities said they were opening polling

stations a week early to stop overcrowding amid the pandemic.  The big changes would limit a president's rule to two six-year terms in total, rather than two consecutive terms, and reset the clock so Mr Putin could continue in office after 2024.  Aside from potentially allowing him to lead Russia until 2036 - the reforms would give the president power to nominate top judges and prosecutors for approval by Russia's upper house of parliament. Every year 30 June is celebrated across the world as Vietnam hosts online ASEAN Summit amid International Day of Parliamentarism. pandemic  It marks the day of establishment of Inter- Parliamentary Union, the global organization of parliaments in 1889.  On this day parliaments get the chance to take stock, identify challenges, and find ways to address them effectively.

International Asteroid Day: 30 June

Southeast Asian leaders held their annual summit by video to show unity and discuss a regional emergency fund to respond to the immense crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

 Long-divisive South China Sea conflicts were also in the spotlight.  The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations talked online due to regional travel restrictions and health risks.  Vietnam, the current ASEAN chair, had planned face-to-face meetings, but most June 30th is celebrated as International Asteroid Day member states assessed it was still too risky worldwide. This year will mark the 6th anniversary for leaders to travel. of World Asteroid day.

International Day of Parliamentarism: 30 June  The day is celebrated to spread awareness about the asteroid, its intensity, and how it will impact planet Earth if it crashes it.  The date of June 30th was selected as it marks the anniversary of the Tunguska event.  Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation that took place on June 30, 1908.

 It was the most harmful known asteroid- SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft with two NASA related event on Earth as it destroyed local astronauts successfully docked with the International plants and animals. Space Station after a historic launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

 It was the first time a private company put a human into orbit.  Elon Musk's SpaceX company confirmed the successful docking of NASA astronauts Bob Global Day of Parents: 01 June Behnken and Doug Hurley with the ISS, the orbiting laboratory after traveling 19 hours.  With the liftoff, SpaceX became the first private company to launch people into orbit, a feat achieved previously by only three governments the US, Russia and China.

Centre announces 'Mudra Shishu loan' for small businesses and cottage industries

The United Nations celebrates Global Day of Parents on 1st of June every year to honour all the parents throughout the world.

 The Global Day of Parents recognizes the primary responsibility of the family in nurturing and protecting their children.  The day acknowledges the selfless commitment of all parents for their children including their lifelong sacrifice towards Government has pledged to make an Atma Nirbhar nurturing this relationship. Bharat. A 1500 crore interest subvention for small  The day was designated by the General business and cottage industries has been announced Assembly in 2012 to honour all the parents under Mudra Shishu loan. throughout the world.

 Under this scheme, one lakh beneficiaries can SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft docks at ISS after avail interest benefit of 2 per cent for a year. historic launch  A Rs 5000 crore package was announced for the roadside hawkers.  Under this, 50 lakh street vendors can avail loan upto Rs 10,000.  Street vendors can contact any nationalised bank to avail the benefit.

National “Artificial Intelligence Portal” of India launched

of AYUSH and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).  It focuses on the transformative impact of Yoga on the lives of individuals and it comes as one of the activities related to the observation of the sixth International Day of Yoga (IDY) coming up on June 21.  Through the competition, the Ministry of AYUSH and ICCR seeks to raise awareness about Yoga and to inspire people to prepare for and become active participants in the observation of IDY 2020. The National “Artificial Intelligence Portal” of India called “ai.gov.in” has been launched by the Union Centre approves Rs 1,407 crore for Minister for Electronics and IT, Law and Justice and implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Assam Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad. during 2020-21

 It has been jointly developed by the Ministry of Electronics and IT along with IT Industry.  The portal will be jointly run by the National e-Governance Division of Ministry of Electronics and IT along with National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) from the IT industry.

Prime Minister announces "My Life My Yoga" Video Blogging contest in Mann Ki Baat Centre has approved Rs 1,407 crore for implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Assam during the year 2020-21.

 Centre has also allocated over 1 thousand 832 crore rupees for implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Bihar during 2020-21.  Assam has planned to provide functional tap connections to 13 lakh rural households in 2020-21, out of total 63 lakh households.  The state has planned to immediately provide household tap connections to all remaining Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a video households belonging to weaker and blogging competition and invited citizens to marginalised sections on a priority basis. participate in it during his 'Mann Ki Baat' address to  Jal Jeevan Mission was announced by the the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year aims to provide tap water connections to 18 Crore  The 'My Life, My Yoga' contest (also called rural households of the country by the year 'Jeevan Yoga) is a joint effort by the Ministry 2024.

UP becomes first state to prepare one lakh beds  The order issued by the department of for COVID-19 patients telecom on May 18 directed all ISP to block two download links on the Dutch website WeTransfer and also the entire website www.wetransfer.com.  The DoT has received reference from the ministry of electronics and IT to block the website and two download links immediately.  Exact reason for blocking of the website could not be ascertained.

WHO launches ‘C-TAP’ for equitable access to Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the life-saving tech country to prepare one lakh beds for COVID-19 patients.

 Each of the 75 districts has dedicated beds for patients in the respective facilities.  The beds in the hospitals are classified into three categories- Level 1, level 2 and level 3.  While level one and two beds are for patients exhibiting mild symptoms, level three beds are meant for graver infections.  Level three hospitals will have ventilator support as well as ICU facilities for the patients, besides having provisions for dialysis. WHO has launched the ‘COVID-19 Technology Govt bans file sharing website ‘WeTransfer’ Access Pool’ for equitable access to life-saving tech. citing security reasons  This comes after at least 37 countries jointly appealed to the World Health Organisation for common ownership of vaccines, medicines and other diagnostic tools to combat the global health crisis.  C-TAP aims to accelerate the development of vaccines and medicines through the sharing of research and information and to increase manufacturing capacity for any products that are developed.  WHO has also issued a ‘Solidarity Call to Action’ urging other stakeholders of the UN The government has ordered internet service health agency to join the cause. providers to block computer file sharing website WeTransfer due to security reasons. DRDO develops ‘Ultra Swachh’ for disinfection of PPEs, electronic items, fabrics

 Farmers who already have a Kisan Credit Card based on their land ownership, can get their KCC credit limit enhanced.  However, interest subvention will be available only to the extent of three lakhs rupees.  Although the general limit for KCC credit without collateral will remain 1.6 lakh rupees.

 This will ensure more credit availability for Defence Research and Development Organization dairy farmers associated with Milk Unions as (DRDO) has developed a disinfection unit named well as assuring repayment of loans to banks. Ultra Swachh to disinfect a wide range of materials, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Centre approves 175 crore rupees for electronics items, fabrics and others. implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Meghalaya  Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, the Delhi-based laboratory of DRDO has developed this product with industry partner Gel Craft Health care Private Ltd.  The system uses an advanced oxidative process consisting of multiple barrier disruption approaches using Ozonated Space Technology for disinfection.  Ultra Swachh is double-layered, with specialized Ozone sealant technology ensuring trapping of Ozone for the necessary Centre has approved 175 crore rupees for disinfection cycle. implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Meghalaya  It also has a catalytic converter to ensure during 2020-21. environment friendly exhaust.  Ultra Swachh comes in two variants namely  Jal Jeevan Mission was launched by the Ozonated Space and Trinetra Technology. Union Government last year aims to provide  Trinetra technology is the combination of Functional Household Tap Connection to Ozonated space and radical dispenser. every rural household by 2024.  Out of 5.89 lakh total rural households, the Govt targets to provide Kisan Credit Cards to one State is planning to provide 1.80 lakh tap crore 50 lakh dairy farmers connections in 2020-21.

The government has set a target to provide Kisan Elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats to be held on Credit Card (KCC) to one crore 50 lakh dairy farmers 19th of June belonging to Milk Unions and Milk producing Companies under a special drive within next two Election Commission has announced that elections months. for 24 Rajya Sabha seats spread across 10 states will be held on June 19.  The card will be provided from June to 31st of July.  Polling for 18 of these 24 seats were deferred due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 Of these 18 seats, four each are from Andhra  The street vendors belonging to the Pradesh and Gujarat, three each from surrounding peri-urban or rural areas are Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two from being included as beneficiaries under the Jharkhand, and one each from Manipur and urban livelihoods programme for the first Meghalaya. time.  The EC also announced that Rajya Sabha  Under the scheme, each of these streets polls for a total of six seats in Arunachal vendors will be given a credit loan of Rs Pradesh, Karnataka and Mizoram will also be 10,000, which they can return as monthly held on June 19 along with the elections that installments within a year. were deferred from March.  Those who repay their loans on time will get  The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the 7 percent annual interest as subsidy which bicameral Parliament of India. will be transferred in their bank accounts.  It currently has a maximum membership of 245. PM Modi greets people on 6th Telangana State  Out of which 233 are elected by the Formation Day legislatures of the states and union territories using single transferable votes through Open Ballot while the President can appoint 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services.

Govt unveils PM SVANIDHI scheme to provide affordable loans to street vendors

Telangana is celebrating the 6th anniversary of its Formation Day on 02 June.

 The Government of India declared this historic day for Telangana, the youngest state in India in 2014.  This day signifies the sustained Telangana Movement history through the years for a Union Government launched PM SVANIDHI - separate state. Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi  Telangana Founded: 2 June 2014 - a special micro-credit facility scheme for providing  Capital: Hyderabad affordable loans to street vendors.  Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan  Chief minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao  The scheme is aimed at enabling the street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have Gujarat govt gearing up to tackle cyclonic storm been adversely affected due to COVID-19 Nisarga lockdown.  Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Gujarat government is gearing up to tackle the launched the scheme in pursuance of the cyclonic storm Nisarg which is likely to hit the south announcement made by Finance Minister Gujarat coast. Nirmala Sitharaman last month.

 The cyclone is expected to hit some parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat.  NDRF has already deployed 13 teams in Gujarat including two kept as reserve and 16 in Maharashtra including seven teams as reserve while one team each was deployed for Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.  At its strongest, Nisarga would be associated with wind speeds in the range 95-105 km per hour.

HP govt launches online portal Skill Register to Energy trading platform Indian Energy Exchange create database of migrants launched the real-time electricity market (RTM) on its platform.

 The RTM enables consumers, including distribution companies (discoms) and captive users, to buy power on exchanges just an hour before delivery.  There will be 48 auction sessions during the day with delivery of power within one hour of closure of the bid session.

Delhi CM launches app to help track hospital In Himachal Pradesh, the State Government beds, ventilators for COVID-19 patients launched an online portal Skill Register to create a sound database of migrants, who have recently entered the state during the lockdown in the wake of the Corona pandemic.

 Skill Register would provide industries in getting information regarding skilled manpower.  In order to utilize the services of skilled migrants who recently returned to the state the IT Department has created an online portal Skill Register. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a  In this online portal, interested persons can ‘Delhi Corona App’ for people to give accurate register through skillregister.hp.gov.in. information about beds and ventilators availability in  Reports regarding skill would be prepared city's hospitals. district wise, educational qualification wise and on work experience.  This app will be updated two times in a day.  On Delhi's preparedness to deal with the Indian Energy Exchange launches real-time Coronavirus, he said, it is a matter of concern electricity market that cases in Delhi are rising but there are sufficient arrangements of beds, ICU and

oxygen to deal with this infectious disease Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Silver and people need not to worry. Jubilee celebrations of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences based in Bengaluru. Arunachal plans tap connections for all households by March 2023  Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) is a public, affiliated university in Bangalore. It is the largest health sciences university in India.  It was set up in 1996 by the government of Karnataka for the regulation and promotion of higher education in health sciences throughout the state of Karnataka.  RGUHS is a member of Association of Commonwealth Universities, UK.

Report on restructuring of the film sector submitted to I&B minister The annual action plan of Arunachal Pradesh to achieve 100 per cent household tap connections in the state was approved by the National Jal Jeevan Mission of the Union ministry of Jal Shakti.

 The state had proposed to provide 100 per cent tap connections to all the households by March, 2023.  The Centre has approved Rs 255 crore for the state under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in 2020- 21.  Water availability in Arunachal Pradesh is An Expert Committees on Rationalisation of Film not an issue, but its mountainous terrain, Media Units and Review of Autonomous Bodies sparsely located habitations and harsh submitted its report to the Ministry of Information climatic conditions pose challenges in and Broadcasting. The Committee was chaired by implementation. Bimal Julka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the  It has suggested an umbrella configuration Silver Jubilee celebrations of Rajiv Gandhi with 4 broad verticals under which institutes University of Health Sciences should work. They are - Production, Festival, Heritage and Knowledge.  It has recommended that these verticals be headed by professionals.  It has also recommended creation of a Film Promotion Fund for independent filmmakers for making commercial films.  Bimal Julka is the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India.

Govt launches SWADES to conduct skill mapping of citizens returning under VBM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in India- Australia Virtual Summit with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison.

 This is the first time that Prime Minister Modi has held a Bilateral Virtual Summit.  The Strategic Partnership between the two countries was strengthened in 2014 - with the visit of the then Australian Prime Minister

Tony Abbott to India and the visit of Prime Union Government has launched a new initiative Minister Modi to Australia in November SWADES- Skilled Workers Arrival Database for 2014. Employment Support to conduct a skill mapping  Framework for Security Cooperation exercise of the returning citizens under the Vande between Australia and India signed in Bharat Mission. November 2014 during Mr Modi's visit to Australia.  This is a joint initiative of the Ministry of  The economic engagement has also been Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, growing. In 2018-19, the trade between the Civil Aviation Ministry and External Affairs two countries was around 21 billion dollars. Ministry.  SWADES aims to create a database of Karnataka invites chip manufacturing company qualified citizens based on their skill sets and 'Intel' to set up its unit in state experience to tap into and fulfil demand of Indian and foreign companies.  The collected information will be shared with the companies for suitable placement opportunities in the country.  The returning citizens are required to fill up an online SWADES Skills Card.  The data collected through SWADES Skill Card will help the citizens with job prospects and bridge the demand-supply gap.

PM Modi took part in 'India-Australia Virtual Summit' with Australian PM Karnataka has extended an invitation to major chip manufacturing company Intel to set up it's unit in the state.

 Intel India Head and top executives spoke to the Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C N Ashwath Narayana through video conferencing, regarding their interest to set up the unit either in Mangaluru or Belagavi.  Mangaluru is a port city and Belagavi in North Karnataka is at the proximity of Goa port.

 Dr C N Ashwath Narayana has assured all Tamil Nadu Govt starts implementation of Rs. help to set up the unit in either one of these 300-crore Rural Rejuvenation Scheme two cities.  Karnataka is home to major tech companies and offers the ease of doing business ecosystem.

CM Didi Kitchen emerges as lifeline for all needy women during COVID-19 lockdown in Jharkhand

In Tamil Nadu, the State Government has started implementing a Rs. 300-crore Rural Rejuvenation Scheme to ensure sustained economic growth in rural areas.

In Jharkhand, the Chief Minister Didi Kitchen is  The scheme had been announced taking into proving to be a lifeline for all the needy, poor, consideration the continued stoppage of desolate women, specially-abled and the elderly various economic activities because of since the lockdown orders were imposed across the COVID-19 lockdown. country ahead of COVID-19 pandemic.  Each district in the state has been allocated around Rs. 10 crore to evolve development  Chief Minister Didi Kitchen scheme was programmes taking into consideration the started by Chief Minister Hemant Soren purely regional and local factors. across the state on April 2 with the motive  Under the scheme, Cauvery Delta region that no poor or needy should starve to sleep districts have started planning largely during the Lockdown period. agriculture oriented schemes.  CM Didi Kitchen provides food to the needy, poor, women and migrant laborers for two J&K L-G launches ''MeraVetan'' app for times a day. government employees  Following social distancing norms, the beneficiaries come to eat these meals daily and are very happy with the help being given by the government during the lockdown period.  CM Didi Kitchen scheme was initially started for 21 days by the Jharkhand State Livelihood Mission on April 2nd in the state, but this welfare scheme has been expanded after the lockdown was extended.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish  As part of the campaign ”Spandan”, senior Chandra Murmu launched a salary tracker mobile police officers will visit police lines, police app ''MeraVetan'' aimed at providing salary-related stations and armed forces companies to information to government employees. interact with the personnel to know about problems being faced by them.  The employees will easily be able to access their salary and other details anytime, the L- No new schemes for a year, says finance ministry G said, while adding that this would amid rising COVID-19 cases especially be useful for those posted in remote and rural areas with no access to the drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs).  The MeraVetan mobile app has been developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) J&K.  After installing the app, the employees need to enter their centralized personnel information system (CPIS) ID, date of birth, GPF and NPS subscription number.  It provides information on pay scale, GPF/NPS subscription, allowances, The finance ministry announced that the remainder deductions, GPF/NPS statement, income tax of this year will see no new schemes till March 31. statement, SLI statement, etc.  This move aimed at tightening the spending Chhattisgarh govt launches ‘Spandan Campaign’ even as the country is witnessing an uptick in to check suicide and fratricide coronavirus cases.  The ministry said only the ones sanctioned and announced under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and other special packages will be attended to.  The schemes already approved under the Budget will also stay suspended till March 31.  On May 22, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das said the Covid-19 pandemic will likely lead to a contraction in India GDP in the financial year 2020-21. The Chhattisgarh government launched the Spandan Campaign to contain incidents of suicide and National awareness campaign on Prevention of fratricide involving police personnel, and Human, Animal Mortality on Highways launched instructions were issued to senior officers to strictly adhere to guidelines in this regard. Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched a national awareness campaign on  The motive of the campaign is to prevent the Prevention of Human and Animal Mortality on force from depression and stress pushing Highways. them to take extreme steps.  A total of 50 police personnel, including  The need for generating awareness and personnel of paramilitary forces, committed education for the masses at large towards suicide in Chhattisgarh over the past two years.

reducing or eliminating mortality on the India launches Nagar Van project to create urban roads. forest in 200 cities  The Minister informed that the country witnesses nearly five lakh road accidents every year, in which about 1.5 lakh lives are lost.  The program aims to bring down these figures by 20 to 25 per cent by March next year.  He requested NGOs and social organisations to locate black spots for animals on the roads, and inform his ministry, so that necessary corrective action may be taken.

Power Minister launches the ‘#iCommit’ On World Environment Day, India has launched initiative on World Environment Day ‘Nagar Van’ an ambitious project to create urban forest cover which will act as green lungs in 200 cities across the country.

 The “Nagar Van (Urban Forests)” programme has been launched with 200 corporations and cities across India. During the launch of the programme, the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar urged people to actively participate and increase the tree cover in their areas.  The “Nagar Van” programme aims to develop 200 Urban Forests across India in next five years with the help of people’s Power Minister R K Singh initiated the ‘#iCommit’ participation and collaboration between the campaign on the occasion of World Environment Forest Department, Municipal bodies, NGOs, Day. Corporates and local citizens.

 The campaign aims to create a robust and CeNS develops low-cost catalyst for hydrogen resilient energy system in the future by generation from water moving towards energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability.  The ‘#iCommit’ initiative is driven by Energy Efficiency Services Limited  It will integrate a wide set of players including Governments, Corporates, Multilateral and Bilateral Organisations, Think Tanks as well as Individuals, hence building a new energy future for India.  #iCommit initiative can bring together a diverse spectrum of government and private

players to build a new energy future for India.

Scientists from The Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), have found out a low cost and efficient way to generate hydrogen from water using Molybdenum dioxide as a catalyst.

 The scientists have shown that Molybdenum dioxide (MoO2) nanomaterials annealed in the hydrogen atmosphere can act as efficient catalysts to reduce the energy input to bring about water splitting with great efficiency. The National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) Pune has  Electrolytic splitting of water is a promising successfully developed an indigenous method to generate hydrogen but requires nasopharyngeal (NP) swab for collecting samples energy input that can be brought down in the from the throat cavity of patients affected with presence of a catalyst. Corona Virus which causes the COVID-19.

Rajasthan CM Gehlot launches Online Labour  The NCL, a lab under the Council for Employment Exchange Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), will manufacture one lakh nasopharyngeal swabs a day.  The nasopharyngeal swab is a medical device with stringent specifications of quality, polymer grade, dimensions and sterilization.  It consists of a cylindrical plastic stick with a brush-like tip of synthetic bristles/flocks.

Government sets up task force to examine maternal mortality rate, women’s health

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recently launched the Raj Kaushal Portal and Online Shramik Employment Exchange through video conferencing.

 It is a major initiative taken by the state government after the lockdown, to make it easier for the workers to get employment who are suffering from livelihood losses and to make the labour available to the industries facing labour shortage.

 Taking a note of the migration of workers from the state and the arrival of migrant The Ministry for Women and Child Development workers due to the corona pandemic, CM (WCD) has set up a task force to look into factors that Gehlot had directed to create an online labour affect Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) among Indian exchange. women.

NCL Pune develops indigenous nasopharyngeal  The task force, headed by Jaya Jaitley, has swab for collecting samples been mandated with inquiring into “matters pertaining to age of motherhood, imperatives

of lowering MMR, improvement of nutritional levels and related issues.  The task force will examine the correlation of the age of marriage and motherhood with the health, medical wellbeing and nutritional status of the mother and her baby during pregnancy, childbirth and afterwards.  It will also suggest measures for promoting higher education among women and suggest suitable legislation or amendments in existing laws to support its recommendations. International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Kylie Jenner tops, Akshay Kumar only Indian on Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) and the the Forbes highest-paid celebrities list MEKINS Industries have developed a UVC-based Cabinet.

 The UVC-based Cabinet will disinfect non- critical hospital items, laboratory wear, and PPEs in order to prevent surface contamination of COVID 19.  The cabinet will also have the capability to disinfect items that have been exhibited to customers in commercial establishments and several domestic items.  With relaxation of the lockdown, there is a Kylie Jenner and Kanye West topped the annual chance of transmission through surface Forbes list of the highest paid celebrities, but sports contamination and hence the common stars, including Roger Federer and Lionel Messi, utilities will play a key role in such situations. dominated the top 10.  Therefore, the best way to tackle this transmission is by using a dry and chemical-  Forbes estimated that Jenner earned $590 free rapid disinfection through exposure to million in the last 12 months, mostly from the UVC light. sale of a 51% stake in her Kylie Cosmetics line to Coty in 2019. CSIR, AIM join hands to promote culture of  Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, 52-year- innovation, entrepreneurship old, is the only Indian to feature on Forbes 2020 list of World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities, at the number corresponding to his age, 52.  In this list, Akshay has beaten celebs such as Hollywood actors Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez, and singer Rihanna, with earnings of 48.5 million dollars.

ARCI, MEKINS develop UVC-based disinfection cabinet to control spread of COVID 19

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) during has partnered with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to 2020-21 with a view to ensuring continued promote innovation in India. flow of credit to farmers.

 AIM is a Government of India flagship ISRO signs MoU with ARIES for space initiative that promotes a culture of situational awareness innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.  Both organizations have signed a letter of intent to boost the innovation ecosystem of the country.  The partnership will support world class start-ups through CSIR Incubators under the Atal Innovation mission initiatives.  They will jointly work on new models of innovation and will also set-up CSIR Innovation Parks.  With the collaboration of CSIR with ARISE, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and an initiative of AIM, they will together Aryabhatta Research Institute (ARIES) have signed stimulate innovation and research in the a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for MSME industry. cooperation in the field of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Astrophysics. NABARD provides Rs 270 crore to Assam Gramin Vikash Bank  This MoU will make the way for future collaborations between ISRO and ARIES in setting up optical telescope observational facilities for space object tracking, R&D studies in space weather, astrophysics and Near-Earth Object (NEO).  The main objective of the MoU is to shield the Indian Space assets from the space debris’s conjunction threats and R&D of Astrophysics, solar sciences and space environment are the base for future space exploration projects and the key to progress in the Indian Space sector. In the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has made available a Special Liquidity IIT, Hyderabad researchers develops low cost Facility (SLF) of Rs 270 crore to Assam Gramin and Artificial Intelligence-based test kit for Vikash Bank. COVID-19 Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-  This amount has been provided for supporting the agricultural activities of the Hyderabad have developed a low cost and Artificial farmers. Intelligence-based test kit for COVID-19.  Following the pandemic, NABARD has provided Rs 25,000 crore nationwide for  These kits can give results in about 20 providing liquidity support to Cooperative minutes. Banks, Regional Rural Banks and

 The test kits are Reverse Tranion Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)-free and get rid of many processes.  He further said the cost of COVID testing with these IIT-H BioChips will be around 600 rupees and can be almost halved in case of mass production of the chips.  These kits can be transported to rural areas as they are very light and helpful to increase the testing for COVID-19 in the country. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has India, Denmark sign MoU for developing mandated a strip of green colour of one centimetre cooperation in power sector width on top of the existing sticker carrying details of registration for BS-VI vehicles of any fuel type.

 For petrol and CNG vehicles, there is a light blue colour sticker and for diesel vehicles, it is of orange colour.  The Ministry in a statement said that such stickers will now have a green strip of one centimetre width on top for BS VI four wheel vehicles.  Green strips of such thickness for BS 6 vehicles for stickers of registration details are being stuck on windshields of 4 wheelers. India and Denmark have signed an MoU for developing cooperation in the power sector. Centre allocates highest ever funds of Rs 1,01,500 crore under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  The MoU signed is to develop a strong, deep Employment Guarantee Scheme during 2020- and long-term co-operation between two 2021 countries in the power sector on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.  It provides for collaboration in areas like offshore wind, long term energy planning, forecasting, flexibility in the grid, consolidation of grid codes to integrate and operate efficiently variable generation options, flexibility in the power purchase agreements and variability in renewable energy production.  Indian electricity market will benefit from this cooperation with Denmark.  Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group will

also be established. A provision of one lakh one thousand 500 crore Govt mandates distinct colour strip on top of rupees has been made under Mahatma Gandhi sticker carrying details of registration for BS-VI National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in vehicles the current financial year 2020-2021.

 It is the highest ever provision of funds under Jharkhand gives BRO approval to employ 11,800 the programme. workers for border projects  A sum of 31 thousand 493 crores has already been released in 2020-2021, which is more than 50 percent of the budget estimate of the current Financial Year.  Average number of persons to whom work offered in May this year has been 2.51 crore per day, which is 73 percent higher than the work offered in May last year.

Indian Air Force designs, develops & manufactures ARPIT

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has permitted the Border Roads Organization (BRO) to employ more than 11,800 workers from the state for critical national projects.

 Jharkhand is also set to sign a first-of-its-kind memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the BRO for ensuring the welfare of workers in all recruitments in the future.  The MoU, prepared by the CMO and the state's labour department, will ensure an The Indian Air Force has designed, developed and institutional framework safeguarding the manufactured an Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated benefits and welfare of workers from the state Transportation (ARPIT). going to work at high-altitude projects of the BRO.  This pod will be utilised for evacuation of  The 11, 815 workers that the BRO had critical patients with infectious diseases requested for recruitment are needed for including COVID-19 from high altitude Operation Vijayak in Ladakh (about 8,000 areas, isolated and remote places. workers required), Project Shivalik in  Requirement of an air evacuation system with Uttarakhand, Project Deepak in Himachal facility to prevent spread of infectious aerosol Pradesh, Project Beacon in Jammu and from a COVID-19 patient during air travel Kashmir. was felt by IAF when COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic. Engineer from Maharashtra develops 'Coro-bot'  This indigenously designed system has been to reduce physical contact of care-givers with developed at a cost of Rs. 60,000 only, which COVID-19 patients is very less as compared to the imported systems costing up to Sixty Lakh. A robot named ‘Coro-bot’ has been developed by an  The system has been developed as a engineer from Thane district of Maharashtra, in order lightweight isolation system made from to reduce the physical contact of care-givers with aviation certified material. COVID-19 patients.

 Instrumentation Engineer, Pratik Tirodkar  The platform has been set up by the developed the ‘Coro-bot’ to cut away the government as there was a need for an requirement of physical contact of nurses and appropriate system for the scientific disposal ward boys with the patient as they confront a of the waste generated by the various great risk while working in the COVID-19 companies in the state. hospitals.  Hence, APEMC will monitor the generation  The robot ‘Coro-bot’ will be operated by a of waste across the State and will also take special app from any location in the world effective measures for its scientific disposal. based on the idea of Internet of Things (IoT).  This robot can provide various services such Manipur CM inaugurates Plant Health Clinic in as delivering food, water and medicines to the Imphal patients suffering from COVID-19, without any necessity of physical presence of nurses as well as other care-givers.  Impressed by its performance, Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde has indicated to deploy Coro-bot in over a dozen government and private hospitals of the district.

Andhra Pradesh launches online waste exchange website “APEMC” With an aim to boost economic growth of Manipur through agriculture and horticulture, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh inaugurated a Plant Health Clinic at the Directorate of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Imphal.

 The aim to open the clinic is to boost the economic growth of Manipur through agriculture and horticulture. Along with the clinic, the Chief Minister also launched a mobile soil testing laboratory van. Online waste exchange website of Andhra Pradesh  The state government has decided to give Environment Management Corporation (APEMC) more emphasis on agriculture and has been launched by the Andhra Pradesh Chief horticulture sectors in this hour of the Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. pandemic COVID-19.  The initiative taken up by the department to  Andhra Pradesh has become India’s first state set up such a plant clinic will provide plant to launch a waste exchange website. Through health diagnostic services to farmers. this platform, the state government seeks to protect the environment by covering 100% Tech Mahindra signs UN Global Compact safe disposal of toxic waste, proper tracking, Initiative to reduce emissions scrutiny as well as audit of waste.  With this platform, the Andhra Pradesh Tech Mahindra has signed a joint declaration with government will promote the six ‘R’s namely UN Global Compact and hence joined 155 global Reduce, Refurbish, Reuse, Recycle, companies in calling for policies to build resilience Redesign and Remanufacture. against future shocks by supporting the activities

targeted to hold global temperature rise to within  They plan to install this in the airports. 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in order to reach  This a hybrid software which will support net-zero emissions before 2050. face-biometric recognition in the future, without changing the complete software  Tech Mahindra seeks to reduce carbon system of the airport. footprint and emissions by moving towards a  IIT stated the idea is not only relevant during zero-carbon resilient economy. It will the present pandemic situation but also achieve its objective with the use of new-age during the non-crisis time. technologies such as the internet of things, artificial intelligence and blockchain. DIAT Pune develops Nano-technology based  These 155 global companies from across 34 disinfectant spray to combat COVID-19 sectors have a combined market capitalization of more than $2.4 trillion, representing five million employees.  The business voices of the above signatories will be convened by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and its business ambition for 1.5°C campaign partners, the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition.

IIT Guwahati students’ startup Flyzy develops mobile application for contactless travel Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, a Deemed University, Pune has developed a Nano- technology based disinfectant spray to combat COVID-19 by disinfecting all types of surfaces.

 It has been named “ANANYA”. This can be used by anyone, from a common man to a healthcare worker, for individual as well as large scale use.  This spray can be used on masks, PPEs, hospital linens, as well as other likely contaminated surfaces such as medical Students of Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati instruments, elevator buttons, door knobs, have developed a mobile application, called ‘Flyzy’, corridors and rooms. to provide a seamless air travelling experience to  This Nano-technology assisted formulation passengers during the pandemic. will not only stop the novel coronavirus from entering the human body, but it will also kill  The mission is to build Flyzy into India’s the virus when the virus comes in contact finest aviation IT technology company for with this formulation layer on masks and providing a stress-free and safe journey to PPEs. flyers.  This is a water based spray and will be  The aim of the application is to provide effective for more than 24 hours after spray. contactless boarding keeping in mind the easier baggage drop, manageable parking, a Madhya Pradesh govt launches urban street better shopping experience and providing vendor welfare programme necessary updates during the whole journey.

 The coronavirus recession is the first since 1870 to be triggered solely by a pandemic.  Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) are expected to shrink by 2.5 per cent this year, their first contraction as a group in at least 60 years.  Per capita incomes are expected to decline by 3.6 per cent, which will tip millions of people into extreme poverty this year.  The current projections suggest that the coronavirus recession will involve a decline Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh in global per capita Gross Domestic Product Chouhan has started Street Vendor Registration (GDP) by 6.2 per cent. Portal http://www.mpurban.gov.in/ and “Mukhyamantri Shahri Path Vyavsayi Utthan Centre allots Rs 4,000 cr to states under ‘Per Drop Yojana” and transferred Rs 300 crore to urban local More Crop’ bodies.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi for starting Pradhan Mantri Path Vikreta Aatmanirbhar Nidhi Karyakram along with this Shehri Path Vyavasayi Utthan Yojana will commence in order to benefit the state’s urban businessmen under which small businessmen or vendors will be given Rs 10,000 in the form of working capital.  The current COVID-19 situation, for development purposes, the Government has provided Rs 1,555 crore to 22,800 Gram The Central government has allocated Rs 4,000 crore Panchayats. as annual allotment to states for the current financial year under the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY- Global economy to shrink 5.2% this year due to PDMC). coronavirus pandemic

 The state governments have identified the beneficiaries to be covered under the programme.  The Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare is implementing the ‘Per Drop More Crop’.  PMKSY-PDMC focuses on enhancing water efficiency at farm level through micro irrigation technologies such as ‘drip and

sprinkler’ irrigation. According to the World Bank, the global economy,  The drip micro irrigation technique not only which has plunged into a severe contraction, will helps in saving water but also reduces shrink by 5.2 per cent this year due to the massive fertilizer usage, labour expenses and other shock of the coronavirus pandemic. input costs.

 So far, micro irrigation funds have been  The Operation is an anti-espionage operation released to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu that was started by the Military Intelligence for Rs 616.14 crore and for Rs 478.79 crore, in 2019. The men were arrested under respectively, through NABARD. Official Secrets Act, 1923.

MHA reconstituted a new committee for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle Complex welfare of freedom fighters inaugurated at Visakhapatnam

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reconstituted a new committee for the welfare of the The Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) freedom fighters. Complex was inaugurated at Visakhapatnam by Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain.  This committee chaired by the minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy and 9  The DSRV Complex is designed to other “eminent freedom fighters” from across accommodate the newly inducted Submarine the country. Rescue System with state of the art facilities  The ministry features a separate division to to store the DSRV assets in a Rescue-Ready serve freedom fighters who are alive and their state. families.  The DSRV system consists of a Submarine  It disburses pension to about 30,000 freedom Rescue Vessel, a Remote Operations fighters and their families. Vehicle, Side Scan Sonar and associated  Besides Reddy, former Congress MLA from equipment. Gujarat Dinakar Bhai Desai, who took part  It also has Diver Decompression Chambers within the 1942 Quit India movement, is and hyperbaric medical equipment to among those a part of the panel. decompress submariners after being rescued from a sunken submarine. Operation Desert Chase: 2 arrested in Rajasthan  The DSRV system can be rapidly mobilised for sharing confidential details with Pakistan by air or road to facilitate submarine rescue operations even at distant locations. The special branch of Rajasthan Police arrested two civil defence employees on espionage charges. Central Railway launches Robotic ‘CAPTAIN ARJUN’ to intensify screening, surveillance  Both the employees were passing information to the Pakistani intelligence Railway Protection Force, Pune has launched a agency, the police said. Robotic ‘CAPTAIN ARJUN’ (Always be  The arrests were made based on the inputs Responsible and Just Use to be Nice) to intensify the provided by Military Intelligence (MI). screening and surveillance.

 This Robot is launched to screen passengers Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta assumes the while they board trains and keep a watch on charge as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval anti-social elements. Command, Visakhapatnam  Captain ARJUN is equipped with a motion sensor, one PTZ camera and one Dome Camera.  The Cameras use Artificial Intelligence algorithms to track suspicious and antisocial activity.  It also has an inbuilt siren, motion activated spotlight, with an in-built internal storage for recording in case there is a network failure.  Captain ARJUN does thermal screening and records the temperature in a digital display panel.

NHAI becomes first construction sector Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta assumed the charge organisation to go ‘Fully Digital’ as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam.

 Biswajit Dasgupta is an alumnus of National Defence Academy.  He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1985 and is a specialist in Navigation and Direction.  He has commanded four frontline ships including the missile corvettes INS Nishank, INS Karmuk, stealth frigate INS Tabar and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

Union Agriculture Minister launches 'Sahakar The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Mitra' Internship programme to provide paid has gone ‘Fully Digital’, with the launch of cloud- internship to youth based and Artificial Intelligence-powered Big Data Analytics platform ‘Data Lake and Project Management Software’.

 In the current Covid-19 pandemic scenario, the NHAI employees are working without any fear of physical contact and touching of physical files.  The lockdown period was used by NHAI to train its employees about using high-tech software.  All project documentation, contractual decisions, and approvals are now being done Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar through the portal only. launched Sahakar Mitra Internship programme to provide paid internship to youth and ensure

availability of assured project loans to young part of the drive, which will also cover cooperators. persons below the age of 30 having co- morbidity or Influenza like Illness/Severe  Launching the scheme, Mr. Tomar said that, Acute Respiratory Illness. National Cooperative Development  This would not be a one-time activity but an Corporation (NCDC), has embarked upon a ongoing process till the containment of series of initiatives in the cooperative sector COVID. entrepreneurship development ecosystem,  He said that the survey would help the state through capacity development. develop an extremely important database to  Sahakar Mitra Scheme will provide the further plan its COVID containment strategy young professionals an opportunity of and make targeted interventions for the practical exposure and learning from the community. working of NCDC and cooperatives as a paid intern. MP govt gives 'corona warriors' status to Divyang  Under the scheme, professionals in Anganwadi workers disciplines including Agriculture and allied areas, IT, Agri-business, Cooperation, Finance, International Trade, Forestry, Rural Development, Project Management will be eligible for the paid internship.

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh launches mobile App- ‘Ghar Ghar Nigrani’

In Madhya Pradesh, Divyang Anganwadi workers are playing an important role in the state during the ongoing Corona crisis.

 They are distributing nutritious food from house to house of the beneficiaries.  They are also advising people to avoid corona infection. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has  The Madhya Pradesh government has given launched a mobile based app - ‘Ghar Ghar Nigrani’, status of Corona warriors to the Anganwadi to undertake house to house surveillance in the state workers. till the elimination of the pandemic. 'STREE' to support, empower women undergoing domestic violence launched in  It is a Health Department initiative, encompassing ASHA workers/Community Hyderabad Volunteers, as a tool for early detection and testing of the people for Covid19, and Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) in preventing its community spread. association with Hyderabad City Police has launched a programme 'STREE' that will support and empower  Entire rural and urban population of Punjab above 30 years of age shall be surveyed as women undergoing domestic violence and abuse.

 Considering the fact that this year's Loss of smell, taste included as new symptoms of International Women's Day theme is 'Each Coronavirus for Equal', a programme for women's empowerment that will be sustainable and impactful involving women from the community has been ideated.  The name reflects the vision - "She Triumphs through Respect, Equality, and Empowerment" (STREE).  Its objective is to create a platform for women from various walks of the community to come together on a common platform to facilitate a joint forum for women and Police

to work together on issues of safety and security of women and girls. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued the clinical management protocol for Covid- UP Government launches 'Bal Shramik Vidya 19. Yojana'  Loss of smell and loss of taste are included as new symptoms of coronavirus amongst others.  The Health Ministry suggested that investigational therapies and drugs- Remdesivir, Convalescent Plasma Therapy, Tociluzimab and Hydroxychloroquine should only be used in a defined subgroup of Covid patients.  The Health Ministry also suggested that use of Tocilizumab may be considered in patients with moderate disease with

progressively increasing oxygen Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath requirements and in mechanically ventilated inaugurated ‘Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana’, patients, not improving despite use of steroids.  Under this scheme Uttar Pradesh government will pay Rs 1,000 to sons and Rs 1,200 to DRDO develops ‘GermiKlean’ to sanitise daughters of labourers every month to uniforms of security forces support their families and keep them away from child labour.  Children in the age group of 8-18 years will be eligible for the scheme and to encourage them to focus on studies.  The government has also included another incentive of Rs 6,000 yearly after the child completes each class – that is 8th, 9th and 10th.

Defence Research and Development Organisation drugs, Personal Protective Equipment, (DRDO) has developed a sanitizing chamber named respiratory assistance devices. ‘GermiKlean’ to sanitise uniforms of security forces. Grand Anicut Dam in Tamil Nadu to be opened on June 16  The sanitizing chamber has been set up at Parliament Street Police Station.  DRDO’s move came after Delhi Police gave their requirement for sanitizing their uniforms, canes, cane shields, helmets, etc.  This chamber is designed to sanitise 25 pairs of uniforms within 15 minutes.

Govt launches AarogyaPath portal for healthcare supply chain

The Grand Anicut Dam (Kallanai), near Trichy in Tamilnadu, will be opened for Kuruvai irrigation in the Cauvery Delta region on June 16th.

 This will ensure the availability of Cauvery water even in the remotest corners of the delta region like Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.  Kallanai is an ancient dam, which is built (in

running water) across the Kaveri river. AarogyaPath, a web based solution for the  The dam was originally constructed during healthcare supply chain was launched to serve the reign of Chola king Karikalan in c. 100 manufacturers, suppliers and customers to BC – c. 100 AD. effectively deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.  It is the fourth-oldest water-diversion or water-regulator structures in the world and  This national healthcare supply chain portal the oldest in India which is still in use. will remove supply chain bottlenecks during the Covid-19 pandemic. GMR signs pact with Andhra govt to develop  The vision of this initiative is to set up an greenfield airport at Bhogapuram information management and forecasting database platform at national level.  It will capture demand and supply scenarios for key healthcare needs items.  This public platform will help healthcare users like hospitals, pathology laboratories, research institutes, medical colleges and patients.  It will also provide seamless access to suppliers, manufacturers and importers for prevailing needs and demand related to medical equipment, diagnostic instruments,

The Andhra Pradesh government signed a CIMAP announces photography competition on concession agreement with GMR Airports Ltd for medicinal and aromatic plants construction of a greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district.

 The state cabinet on March 4 had approved the selection of the GMR Group as the developer for Bhogapuram international airport.  The GMR Group would develop a state-of- the-art international airport at Bhogapuram which would be ready by 2023.  The government is also planning to construct a metro rail network in Visakhapatnam that would be extended up to the Bhogapuram airport. In an effort to create awareness about the usefulness of Medicinal and aromatic plants, the Central Uttar Pradesh govt decides to adopt scheme of Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic plants (CIMAP) Flatted Factory Model has announced a photography competition on medicinal and aromatic plants.

 Through this competition, CIMAP also wants to convey the message of conservation of these medicinal plants.  The theme of the competition is ‘Know your Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)’.  Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) is a research institute of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).  It is located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

In Uttar Pradesh, the State Government has decided Central Railway sets up Body Screening Facility to adopt the scheme of Flatted Factory Model which ‘FebriEye’ in Mumbai's CSMT, LTT Stations will ensure easy availability of land for industries, and in turn, generate employment also.

 Flatted factories that means multi-storeyed buildings in which multiple non-polluting units can operate will be allowed.  The new policy will allow the owner of an industrial land of at least five acres to develop one-fourth of it as a flatted factory.  The model can be adopted only for non- polluting manufacturing unit permitted by industrial development authority like manufacturing of readymade garments, handicrafts.

In order to effectively scan passengers for symptoms and the day after, known as Bhu Daha or of COVID-19, Central Railway has set up a body ‘Basi Raja. screening facility called FebriEye.  The festival is essentially the celebration of the earth’s womanhood. It is believed that  This is yet another effort towards passenger during this time the Mother Earth or Bhudevi safety after automated ticket checking and undergoes menstruation. managing access (ATMA) machines and Always be Responsible and robotic Captain Chhattisgarh Police launches Spandan campaign Arjun. to protect police personnel from depression,stress  In order to effectively scan passengers for COVID-19 symptoms and to ensure contactless entry, body-screening facility "FebriEye thermal cameras" have been set up at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai, Maharashtra.  FebriEye is an Artificial Intelligence-based thermal screening system for real-time and automated, non-intrusive monitoring to ensure that a person entering does not have a high fever.

Odisha’s unique festival Raja Parba begins Chhattisgarh Police has launched a campaign ‘Spandan’ to protect the jawans from depression and stress.

 Director General of Police DM Awasthi recently initiated this campaign from a Maoist affected Kanker district of Bastar division.  More than 50 police personnel, including personnel of paramilitary forces, committed suicide in Chhattisgarh over the past two years.  Eighteen of these cases were reported from On Raja Praba, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seven districts of Maoist-affected Bastar greeted the people Of Odisha. division.  Apart from this, Jawans opening fire on their  Raja Parba, Odisha’s three-day unique colleagues were also reported in recent years. festival celebrating the onset of monsoon and the earth’s womanhood has begun. Assam fire: MB Lal Committee recommendations  As a mark of respect towards the earth during not implemented for a decade her menstruation days, all agricultural works, like ploughing, sowing are suspended for the The recent massive fire at the Baghjan Oil field, three days. Assam had caused serious environmental damages  Raja Sankranti is the first day of the Ashara and led to migration of 1000s of people in the region. month.  It is celebrated on the day prior to the Sankranti, (Pahili Raja), the day of Sankranti,

 The Government of India has taken several measures to address the issues of such oil field fires.  In 2009 GoI constituted the M B Lal Committee following the fire accident at the IOCL terminal in Jaipur.  The Committee had made 118 recommendations in regards to the safety guidelines to be followed by the oil companies while installing oil wells.

NCLT allows Jet Airways to sell office in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex

A team of researchers in Indian Institute of Science, IISc in Bengaluru have developed ‘Workplace Readiness Indicator’ for organizations to insulate their workplaces from Corona pandemic.

 It is an online assessment tool developed in collaboration with the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority for ensuring safe workplaces.  The Workplace Readiness Indicator

developed by IISc will help plan and The NCLT has allowed Jet Airways to sell its establish pandemic-specific policies, premises in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to settle procedures and necessary management Rs 360 crore dues of mortgage lender HDFC. practices.  An organization can enter relevant  Jet Airways' insolvency resolution information about their workplace and the professional Ashish Chhawchharia had tool developed by IISc will calculate moved the NCLT to seek approval to sell its readiness using ten specific indices like third and fourth floor in Godrej BKC building infrastructure, precautions, outreach, to clear overseas debt. employees interaction level, transport among  The Principal Bench of NCLT in its order others. granted permission to the grounded airline to sell the premises for utilising the proceeds to India's first infectious disease diagnostic lab now settle Rs 360 crore dues of HDFC. ready  The property is a non-core asset of the grounded airlines, which was never used by India's first infectious disease diagnostic lab is now Jet as part of its airlines business. ready.

IISc develops ‘Workplace Readiness Indicator’  This rapid response mobile laboratory is part for organizations to insulate workplaces from of government Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Corona pandemic  This laboratory was built in a record time of eight days from the date of receipt of Automotive Chassis, from Bharat Benz.

 It is built with the support of the Department The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of Biotechnology. (CBIC) launched ‘e-Office’ in more than 500 GST  The lab is a BSL-2 facility with on site Elisa, and customs offices. real-time reverse tranion polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) test and Biochemistry  It will improve governance by automating the analysers. internal processing and handling files.  This lab can test Elisa about 200 per day and  The launch of the new application signifies a RTPCR about 50 per day. crucial change in the internal office procedures that till now relied on manual MoS Home G Kishan Reddy launches robot to handling of files and paper movement. assist COVID-19 workers in Telangana  The e-Office application, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), helps online file-related work, ranging from receiving and marking dak, operating a file, getting the draft letter ready, its clearance and signature and dispatch of the inked letter.  CBIC Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar  Founded: 1 January 1964  Headquarters: New Delhi

India ranked 43rd on IMD's World Competitiveness Index Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy launched a robot ‘GermiBAN’.

 The robot carries essentials products to frontline COVID-19 workers.  The robot was developed by a Hyderabad- based company, namely AIC ALEAP of the WEHub.  The device has the capability of killing 99.9% of surface and air microbes.

CBIC launches e-Office application India continues to remain ranked 43rd on an annual World Competitiveness Index compiled by Institute for Management Development (IMD).

 Singapore has retained its top position on the 63-nation list.  Denmark has moved up to the second position (from 8th last year), Switzerland has gained one place to rank 3rd, the Netherlands has retained its 4th place and Hong Kong has slipped to the fifth place (from 2nd in 2019).  WCI compiled by Institute for Management Development (IMD)

KVIC taps palm industry to provide direct India became the world’s 9th largest recipient of the employment foreign direct investment in 2019 scoring deals worth $51 billion.

 World Investment Report 2020 is the 30th edition of the annual report.  The United States is the largest recipient of FDI in 2019 at $246 billion.  China, Singapore, Netherlands and Ireland are the top 5 largest recipients of FDI in 2019 respectively.

Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 launched

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) rolled out a unique project to produce ''Neera and Palmgur (jaggery)'' which it expects has a huge potential to create employment in the country.

 The project was launched at Dahanu in Palghar district of Maharashtra, a state with more than 50 lakh palm trees.  The initiative will provide direct employment to 400 local traditional trappers.  The project aims at promoting ''Neera'' as a The state government of Maharashtra has signed 12 substitute to soft drinks while also creating Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with self-employment for tribals and traditional Indian and foreign corporations from countries like trappers. USA, China, South Korea and Singapore.  Neera, extracted from the palm trees before sunrise, is a nutrient-rich health drink  Some of the prominent companies investing consumed in many Indian states. in Maharashtra include Great Wall Motors Company, API Motors, United Phosphorus India 9th largest recipient of FDI in 2019, US and ExxonMobil. Tops: UN Report  The MOUs have been signed as a part of the ‘Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0’ initiative of the state to restart the economy which has taken a hit by coronavirus pandemic.  The total cost of the MoU is Rs 16,100 crore.

UP becomes top state in country to provide employment to workers under MGNREGA

Uttar Pradesh has become the top state in the country to provide employment to the workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme MGNREGA.

 Uttar Pradesh provided employment to more  It states that the average temperature over than 57 lakh workers under MGNREGA. India is projected to rise by 4.4 degrees  57 lakh 12975 workers got employment in Celsius, while the intensity of heat waves is around 57 thousand village panchayats of the likely to increase by 3-4 times by the end of state which is 18% of the total work the century. generated under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act PM Narendra Modi to launch 'Garib Kalyan (MGNREGA) in the country. Rojgar Abhiyaan' to boost livelihood  Officials said that the state has generated 7.93 opportunities in rural India crore man-days and the government will provide jobs to 10 lakh more workers in the coming days.

Average temperature over India projected to rise by 4.4 degrees Celsius

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 'Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan' on June 20 to boost livelihood opportunities in rural India.

 The Government of India has decided to launch a massive rural public works scheme 'Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan' to empower Average temperature of India experienced a rise in and provide livelihood opportunities to the temperature, along with decline in rainfall, returnee migrant workers and rural citizens. significant increase in frequency of very severe  The campaign of 125 days across 116 cyclonic storms and droughts over the past few districts in 6 states aims to work in mission decades. mode to help migrant workers.  It will involve intensified and focused  Thi was declared in a research report of the implementation of 25 different types of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). works to provide jobs and create  According to the report, "Since the middle of infrastructure in the rural regions of the the twentieth century, India witnessed rise in country. temperature, decrease in monsoon with a rise in extreme temperature and rainfall, India elected as non-permanent member of UN droughts, and sea levels and increase in Security Council for a two-year term intensity of severe cyclones.  India's average temperature has risen by India was elected as a non-permanent member of the around 0.7 degrees Celsius during 1901- UN Security Council for a two-year term after 2018, it said, adding that the rise is largely on winning 184 votes in the 193-member General account of GHG-induced warming and Assembly. partially offset by forcing due to anthropogenic aerosols.

 Along with India, Ireland, Mexico and  The Prime Minister said that Atal Bihari Norway also won the Security Council Vajpayee was also a follower of Acharya elections. Mahapragya.  India was a candidate for a non-permanent  Acharya Shri Mahapragya was the tenth head seat from the Asia-Pacific category for the of the Shwetambar Terapanth order of 2021-22 term. Jainism.  Its victory was certain as it was the sole  Mahapragya was a saint, yogi, spiritual candidate vying for the lone seat from the leader, philosopher, author, orator, and poet. grouping. India's two year term will begin on  He has written more than 300 books in January 1, 2021. Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati, English on these  This is the eighth time that India will sit at the subjects. UN high-table, which comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates members. an International Workshop on Good Governance Practices in a Pandemic Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain tested positive for COVID-19

The International Workshop on “Good Governance Practices in a Pandemic for International Civil Servants” was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has tested State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, positive for COVID-19. Jitendra Singh.

 He was admitted to a hospital following high  The workshop was organized by Indian fever. Technical and Economic Cooperation  The first report of Mr Jain was negative. (ITEC), Ministry of External Affairs and  The minister was tested again after 24 hours National Centre for Good Governance today and this time, he tested positive. (NCGG), Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). PM Modi pays tribute to Acharya Mahapragya  The two-day Conference featured the on his birth centenary participation of 81 International Civil Servants from 16 Countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Acharya Mahapragya on his birth centenary Government unveils auction process for coal celebration. mines

 He also described Acharya Mahapragya as India fully opened commercial coal mining for the the Swami Vivekanand of modern times. private sector through auctions designed to boost production, reduce imports and raise state revenues.

 The auction of 41 coal blocks, announced by statistics of ICU beds and ventilators that are Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected occupied and vacant in both govt and private to attract ₹33,000 crore in investments, with hospitals besides location map, ability to private miners sharing revenues with the contact hospital through telephonic call and government. email is also available.  The blocks are located across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha Karnataka Government observes “Mask Day” and Maharashtra. on 18 June  There will be no restriction on the sale and utilization of coal from the mines.  Despite hosting the world’s fourth-largest coal reserves, India imports around 235 million tonnes (mt) of coal a year, of which around 135 mt worth ₹1.71 trillion could be sourced locally.  According to the coal ministry, these 41 mines are expected to hit a peak production of 225 mt, generating around 15% of India’s coal output in 2025-26.

'Air-Venti' App to provide information on ICU The Karnataka government has decided to observe beds, ventilators in Mumbai June 18 as "Mask Day".

 The day was observed to spread awareness about the use of masks, sanitisers, washing hands with soap, and maintaining social distancing among other things aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.  To observe “Mask Day”, the Karnataka government organised a march which featured the participation of public representatives, dignitaries and medical staff.

Indian Railways terminate Chinese Contract due to poor performance In Maharashtra, amid the COVID-19 crisis, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has launched a mobile application “Air-Venti” to help residents in the city to know about the availability of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and Ventilators.

 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the acute shortage of ventilators for the ‘Respiratory Intensive Care Unit’ for severely ill patients.  The mobile app ‘Air-Venti’ launched by the civic body in Mumbai aims to provide overall

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) has decided to terminate the contract with Beijing National Railway Research and Design Institute of Signal and Communication Group limited.

 The contract has been terminated due to poor performance of the company.  In 2016, the Chinese company had won the contract to install signalling system and telecommunications work in over 400 ICICI Home Finance has launched a special kilometre of rail lines of Kanpur Deendayal affordable housing loan scheme, with special rates Upadhyaya section. for women, lower and middle income groups.  Despite the passage of four years there is only 20 per cent progress in the work.  Called SARAL, it aims to fund homes in urban and rural areas. British oil giant BP to set up global business  It has been developed for women, lower- centre in Pune middle-income customers, and economically weaker sections who have a maximum household income up to Rs 6 lakhs annually.  This housing loan is offered at an interest rate starting from 7.98 per cent onwards.  Under the SARAL affordable housing loan, one can opt for a loan up to Rs 35 lakhs, and for a maximum tenure of 20 years.

19th Great June Uprising Day observed in Manipur

British Petroleum’s (BP) India is planning to set up a global business service centre in Pune and hire 2000 people for the same.

 This is in contrast to the oil major's other plans as part of which it is laying off 10,000 employees.  BP said the global business service (GBS) centre is expected to begin operations by January next year and will provide business processing and advanced analytics The 19th Great June Uprising Day was observed in capabilities in support of BP businesses Imphal and other places of Manipur on 18 June. worldwide.  When fully operational it is expected to employ around 2,000 staff.  The day is observed every year on 18 June to pay tribute and respect to 18 persons who lost their lives in June, 2001 to protect the ICICI Home Finance launches affordable territorial integrity of Manipur. housing loan scheme

 On the occasion, family members of the 18 following the English alphabetical order of martyrs and leaders of some organisations the member states' names. paid floral tribute & respect to 18 persons at  India will assume the rotating presidency of Kekrupat, Manipur. the Council for the month of August next year. India will preside over the Council BJP's Jyotiraditya Scindia, Congress leader again for a month in 2022. Digvijaya Singh and Shibu Soren of JMM among  India, Norway, Ireland, Mexico and Kenya 19 elected to Rajya Sabha were elected as the non-permanent members of the UNSC for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021.  Tunisia will begin 2021 as the President of the Council in January, followed by a month each for the rest of the year by the UK, the US, Vietnam, China, Estonia, France, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Niger.

Govt Launches Portal 'SATYABHAMA' to Promote R&D in Mining, Mineral Sector

Results of all eight states that went to polls for Rajya Sabha have been declared.

 Voting was held for 19 seats spread over eight states.  Jyotiraditya Scindia of BJP, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Chief Shibu Soren were among those elected to 19 Rajya Sabha seats.  Of the 19 seats, four each were from Andhra The mines ministry announced the launch of a portal Pradesh and Gujarat, three each from "SATYABHAMA" with an aim to promote research Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two from and development in the mining and minerals sector. Jharkhand, and one each from Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya.  This portal will allow online submission of project proposals along with monitoring of India will be UN Security Council President for the same and utilisation of funds. August, 2021  The portal has been designed, developed and implemented by the National Informatics India, which has been elected as a non-permanent Centre (NIC), Mines Informatics Division. member of the Security Council, will serve as the  The portal will increase efficiency and president of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the effectiveness in the implementation of the month of August, 2021. scheme.  The major institutes where research projects  The presidency of the Council is held by each have been funded include Indian Institute of of the members in turn for one month, Science, Bengaluru and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.

Housing Ministry, SIDBI sign MoU for special  The annular ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse, micro-credit facility for street vendors wherein the Sun appears like a ring of fire, is visible in different parts of the country.  The solar eclipse is taking place on the summer solstice, which is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.  When the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth, the shadow falls on the surface of the Earth.  The Sun is entirely covered by the Moon for a brief period.

China offers Bangladesh tariff exemption for 97% of exports from Dhaka amid tensions with Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has signed a India Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi).

 PM SVANidhi is a Special Micro-Credit Facility for Street Vendors.  According to the MoU, PM SVANidhi Scheme will be implemented by SIDBI under the guidance of MoHUA.  The credit guarantee to the lending institutions would also be managed by the SIDBI through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE). In a bid to woo Bangladesh, China has provided a People in several parts of India witness annular huge trade boost to the country by announcing tariff solar eclipse, with majestic Ring of Fire exemption for 97 per cent of Bangladeshi products effective from July 1.

 The decision has come one month after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a discussion to upgrade their bilateral relations during the COVID-19 pandemic.  With this announcement, a total of 8,256 Bangladeshi products will come under the 97 percent of products that would be exempted from tariff.  Currently, 3095 Bangladeshi products enjoy duty-free access to Chinese market under The country witnessed a rare celestial event, an Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). annular solar eclipse on 21 June.

World Bank approves dollar 1.05 billion to foodgrains and cash doles to women, poor Bangladesh for jobs and economic recovery senior citizens and farmers to mitigate hardship faced due to the lockdown.  More than 42 crore poor people received financial assistance of Rs 65,454 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package.

India Ideas Summit 2020 on July 21-22

The World Bank has approved dollar 1.05 billion for three projects in Bangladesh to create quality jobs and accelerate economic recovery in the wake of the Corona pandemic.

 These projects will help the economy in bouncing back by creating more and better jobs and promoting direct private investment The two-day India Ideas Summit 2020 is being held in specialized economic zones. virtually on July 21-22, marking its 45th annual  The first project worth a dollar 500 million meeting, with the focus on geopolitics in the post- called Private Investment and Digital COVID-19 world. Entrepreneurship (PRIDE) project will strengthen social and environmental  The summit will also focus on shifting supply standards in selected economic zones and chains, digitization and technology trends, software technology parks in Bangladesh. the future of healthcare, and equitable  The dollar 295 million Enhancing Digital growth. Government and Economy (EDGE) Project  Every year the Summit is being organized by will establish an integrated, cloud-computing the USIBC. The summit is conducted to digital platform for all government agencies showcase the importance of the positive and improve cyber-security. outcome of the India-United States economic  The dollar 250 million Second Programmatic partnership and the overall bilateral Jobs Development Policy Credit will create relationship between the two nations. fiscal space to support the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. ISRO receives patent for protective garment for human spaceflight Over 42 crore poor received financial assistance of Rs 65,454 crore under PMGKP The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has received a patent for its Liquid Cooling and Heating More than 42 crore poor people have received Rs Garment (LCHG). 65,454 crore in financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP).  It is made of biocompatible fabrics and components to provide a comfortable  As part of Rs 1.70 lakh crore relief package, temperature and removal of sweat for the government on March 26 announced free astronauts, for use in space for protection from hot and cold environments.

 LCHGs are used in space, military  Ward-Boys, ASHA workers and technicians applications, fire fighting and also for are also covered by the special insurance personal cooling and heating purposes for scheme. protection from hot and cold environments of industrial areas or in extreme temperature and Tripura to start ‘ Play little, Study little’ scheme humidity conditions that may exist in work for school students from June 25 environments.  These garments have a system for circulating temperature controlling fluid into and out of the garments, for instance, through tubes inside the garment.

Insurance Scheme under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers extended

With uncertainty prevailing over reopening of schools due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Tripura government has decided to start a scheme called ‘Ektu Khelo, Ektu Padho’ which means ‘Play little, Study little’, from June 25.

 As per the scheme, the students would be getting audio and video contents on learning The Insurance Scheme announced under Pradhan activities , projects along with fun and Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers gaming activities via SMS or WhatsApp who are fighting to contain COVID-19 has been services. extended for another three months till September.  The Education state headquarters would share the learning contents to different  The scheme provides an insurance cover of district academic coordinators and they 50 lakh rupees to around over 22 lakh public would share the same to headmasters of the healthcare providers. schools in their concerned areas.  They include community health workers,  The headmasters would give the who may have to be in direct contact and care responsibility to the teachers to share the of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk contents among the students. of being impacted by this.  The students would get their daily lessons  Earlier the scheme was slated to end on 30th and activities on their phones every morning June. and their feedback would be received every  The scheme is funded through the National afternoon. Disaster Response Fund, operated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Ambubachi Mela at Assam's Kamakhya Temple  Doctors, nurses, paramedics, sanitation cancelled workers and a few others working in hospitals under the central and State governments are covered under the insurance scheme.

navigation devices to find locations and routes within the country.

 Dhruva will receive signals from India’s NAVIC group of navigation satellites as well as the US Global Positioning System-based satellites to determine these accurately under all weather conditions.  The radio frequency receiver chip was designed in 18 months by students and researchers at IIT Bombay.  It can receive in multiple frequency bands For the first time, the famous Ambubachi Mela and handle weak signals. which is held at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati every year is cancelled due to the outbreak of VP, PM Modi, HM pay tribute to Dr. Syama CoronaVirus. Prasad Mookerjee on his death anniversary

 Even though the Government issued notification allowing religious institutions to open for public on certain conditions from 8th June but Kamakhya Devalaya Management Committee decided to keep the temple closed till 30th June considering the prevailing situation.  Lakhs of pilgrims visit the Ma Kamakhya Temple during the Ambubachi Mela but like every year no pilgrims will be entertained in the Devalaya this year.

 Only the rituals will be performed in the temple and all the entrances will remain The Vice President, Prime Minister and Home closed. Minister paid tributes to eminent educationist and founder of Bhartiya Jan Sangh Dr. Syama Prasad IIT-Bombay develops Dhruva, Indian receiver Mookerjee on his death anniversary. chip for NAVIC, GPS satellites  Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was born in a Bengali family on 23 June 1901.  At the age of 33, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee became the youngest vice-chancellor of Calcutta University in 1934.  After India’s independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru made Dr.Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Ministry for Industry and Supply in the interim Central Government.  However he resigned from the Cabinet in

1950 as he was against the ‘Nehru-Liaquat IIT-Bombay has developed a homegrown receiver Ali Pact’. chip - Dhruva -that can be used in smartphones and  After he formed Bhartiya Jana Sangh on 21st October, 1951 and became its first President

Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates India's one of  The project will be launched, with the India's largest & first Virtual Healthcare & intention to develop a pathway towards a Hygiene EXPO 2020 low-carbon transport system for India.  India has been a member of ITF, an intergovernmental organisation for transport policy, since 2008.  ITF Secretary-General Young Tae Kim and NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant will open the public online launch event.

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually launches ‘YUKTI 2.0’

Union State Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated one of India's largest and first Virtual Healthcare and Hygiene EXPO 2020.

 The unique exhibition which aims to give a boost to such health and hygiene endeavours has been organised by FICCI.  This unique exhibition aims to give a boost to such health and hygiene endeavours. This is the first-ever largest virtual exhibition in India making a new beginning. Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, launched an NITI Aayog with International Transport Forum initiative ‘YUKTI 2.0’ to help systematically to launch 'Decarbonising Transport in India' assimilate technologies having commercial potential project on June 24 and information related to incubated startups in our higher education institutions.

 Earlier, the Minister had launched the YUKTI (Young India combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation) web portal on 11 April, 2020/ Ministry of HRD prepared the portal in view of Coronavirus.  The portal intends to cover the different dimensions of COVID-19 challenges in a very holistic and comprehensive way.  Through this portal, the Ministry of Human Resource Development will endeavor to NITI Aayog in collaboration with International ensure that students, teachers and researchers Transport Forum will launch the 'Decarbonising in higher educational institutions are getting Transport in India' project. appropriate support to meet the requirements needed to advance their technologies and innovations.

Commerce and Industry Ministry hailed for  Under this a financial assistance up to Rs.10 'country of origin' rule lakhs can be provided to the Micro manufacturing and service enterprises either for working capital or for investment purposes.  The facility comes with a simplified procedure and competitive rate of interest.  KBL Micro Mitra would be available for the Micro entrepreneurs across India through all the branches of Karnataka Bank.

Moody's projects India GDP to shrink 3.1% in 2020

“Information about Country of Origin” has been mandated for the sellers by the Government e- Marketplace (GeM), a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

 The sellers have been advised to mention “Information about Country of Origin” while registering all new products on GeM.  While those sellers, who had already registered their products before the launch of this new feature on GeM, would be reminded regularly to update the information about Country of Origin. Moody's Investors Service projected the Indian  If they fail to update the same, their products economy to shrink 3.1 per cent in 2020. It also said shall be removed from GeM. that the clashes with China on the border also suggest rising geopolitical risks in the Asian region. Karnataka Bank launches KBL Micro Mitra for micro enterprises  While it pegged India's annual growth at 0.2 per cent in April, the forecast has been sharply revised after taking into consideration the disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic.  However, Moody's expects the economy to register 6.9 per cent growth in 2021.  Moody's has forecast that China would be the only G-20 country to post growth this year.  The expectation is that China would grow 1 per cent in 2020, followed by a strong rebound of 7.1 per cent in 2021.

Karnataka Bank has launched a new product KBL India retains its position as 3rd-largest economy Micro Mitra. on PPP basis for 2017

(PCI) by 5.4 per cent in the financial year 2020-21 (FY21).

 It will be decreased to Rs 1.43 lakh from Rs 1.52 lakh in FY20.  This decline in PCI is higher than the nominal GDP decline of 3.8 per cent.  Among states, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Gujarat will be the worst hit with PCI falling 15.4 per cent, 13.9 percent and 11.6 per cent, respectively in FY21.  At the other end of the spectrum are Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, and Manipur that India has retained and consolidated its position as the are likely to witness the least drop in PCI third-largest economy after China and the US in during this period. terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) for 2017. Passport Seva Divas: 24 June  PPP of the rupee per dollar at the gross domestic product (GDP) level rose to 20.65 in 2017 from 15.55 in 2011, while the exchange rate of a dollar to a rupee rose to 65.12 from 46.67 during the period.  The World Bank has released new PPPs for the reference year 2017, under the International Comparison Program (ICP), that adjust for differences in the cost of living across economies of the world.  Globally, 176 economies participated in the 2017 cycle of ICP. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) celebrated COVID-19 to dent India's FY21 per capita Passport Seva Divas (PSD) on 24 June, 2020, to income by 5.4%: SBI report commemorate the enactment of the Passports Act on 24 June, 1967.

 External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said there has been a complete transformation of passport delivery service in the last six years.  The Ministry has taken significant initiatives for the simplification of Passport Seva rules.  The number of documents have been reduced and passport issuance process has been eased.  EAM informed that the procurement process for production of chip-enabled e-passports is being carried out and their introduction will According to the latest report by the economic wing greatly strengthen the security of Indian of State Bank of India (SBI), COVID-19 pandemic travel documents. is likely to bring down India’s per capita income Day of the Seafarer: 25 June

 After the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Banks fiasco last year, the Union Cabinet in February amended Banking Regulation Act to strengthen the cooperative banks in the country.  During Budget 2020, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced that cooperative banks will be brought under the ambit of RBI.  There are more than 8.6 crore depositors in over 1,500 urban and multi-state cooperative banks across the country.

The Day of the Seafarer is celebrated each year on Vivekananda Yoga University: World’s first yoga June 25. university outside India launched in Los Angeles

 On this day, people pay respect to Seafarers and sailors who help the entire world function by conducting sea transport.  Even now, global trade still depends on ocean transport, which is why Seafarers and sailors are essential to the functioning of the world.  Day of the Seafarer celebration was first started in 2010 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Govt decides to bring cooperative banks under RBI through an ordinance As part of the 6th International Yoga Day commemorations, the world's first yoga university outside India has been launched in Los Angeles.

 It offers programmes that combine scientific principles and modern research approaches to ancient Indian practice.  Eminent Indian yoga guru Dr H R Nagendra, Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA), is the first Chairman of VaYU.  The university will help thousands of yoga teachers in the US whose yoga education was The Union Cabinet decided to bring all co-operative limited to 200 or 500 hours of certificate banks under the Reserve Bank of India through an programmes to progress further into ordinance. university-based higher education.  The applications for fall 2020 semester are  Government banks, including 1,482 urban open with the first day of classes starting on cooperative banks and 58 multi-state August 24 in a virtual mode. cooperative banks, are now being brought under supervisory powers of Reserve Bank of Kushinagar airport in UP declared an India (RBI). international airport

 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.  Under the agreement, all four channels of Eduset will now be available on the Jio platform free of cost.  Due to Covid-19 pandemic the state is facing difficulty in imparting education to school children, especially in the rural setup.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates In a bid to boost domestic and international tourism, Devika and Puneja Bridges in Udhampur & Doda the Union Cabinet approved the proposal to declare Districts the Kushinagar airport in Uttar Pradesh as an international airport.

 Kushinagar is regarded as a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centre and is dotted with several other Buddhist sites in the surrounding areas such as Sravasti (238 km), Kapilvastu (190 km) and Lumbini (195 km).  It already serves as the presenting site for the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit spanning India and Nepal.

 On any given day, around 200-300 devotees from Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Burma, etc Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated two are coming and offering their prayers at important bridges in his Lok Sabha constituency, Kushinagar. namely Devika bridge in Udhampur and Puneja bridge in Bhaderwah, through a Virtual ceremony. Haryana govt, Reliance Jio TV enter agreement to educate 52 lakh students  The Bridge on River Devika in Udhampur has been completed by the Border Roads Organisation within fifteen months.  The Puneja Bridge was also constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 36 months.  The 10-meter-long Devika Bridge construction resolves the traffic issues of the region and this will also help in smooth passage of army convoys and vehicles.  While the 50-meter-long Puneja Bridge is strategically very important from a defence point of view. Haryana government and Reliance Jio TV have entered an agreement that is expected to benefit Rohini Commission set to get nod for its ninth around 52 lakh school children in rural areas. extension

 The Western Economic Corridor and Regional Enhancement (WeCARE) Phase I project is the first of a multi-phased $1.4 billion World Bank programme to upgrade the existing 110 KM two-lane highway— Bhomra-Satkhira-Navaron and Jahore- Jhenaidah.  It will support the government’s plan of developing a 260 km economic corridor in the western part and benefit over 20 million The Justice Rohini Commission- set up in October people. 2017 to recommend sub categorization of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and ensure that India joins 'Alliance for Poverty Eradication' at marginalized sub castes get due benefits- is set to get UN as founding member its ninth extension.

 The Rohini Commission was to originally submit its report by March 2018.  The move to grant yet another extension to the Commission comes at a time when elections are due in Bihar- a state where OBC sub categorization of any kind will have huge political impact.

World Bank approves $500m to improve road connectivity in Bangladesh India has become a founding member of an Alliance for Poverty Eradication at the UN, launched by the President of the General Assembly.

 It aims to focus on efforts to boost the global economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.  President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad- Bande will formally launch the 'Alliance for Poverty Eradication' on June 30.  India has joined the alliance as a founding The World Bank (WB) has approved 500 million US member and stressed that ending poverty is dollar to help Bangladesh improve road connectivity not just about monetary compensation but along the Jashore-Jhenaidah corridor covering four guaranteeing access of the poor to quality western districts. education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, decent housing and social security.  This project will unlock the region’s potential by stimulating the economy of districts, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Launches linking farms to markets, connecting Dhaka ‘eBlood Services’ Mobile App Amid COVID-19 with the western region as well as with Crisis neighboring countries.

 The CM inaugurated the Narsapur Urban Forest Park, which was developed in 636 acres.  Haritha Haram programme was launched on 3rd July 2015 by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.  Through the programme, the Telangana state government has set a target to increase the forest cover in the state to 33 per cent from the 24 per cent (as per 2015 records) by planting a total of 230 crore saplings across the state. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched the ‘eBlood Services’ Mobile Application, in Karnataka becomes the First State to Amend its partnership with the Indian Red Cross Society Industries (Facilitation) Act for Small, Medium (IRCS), for easy access to blood in this critical time and Large-scale Industries of coronavirus pandemic.

 Notably, this initiative would help the people to get the blood on time just by registering on the application.  A person will be able to place orders for four units of blood at a time.  The ‘eBloodServices’ mobile application is developed by the ERaktkosh team of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

Telangana CM Launches Sixth Phase Of Haritha Haram Programme The Karnataka government amended the long pending industrial reform “The Karnataka Industries (Facilitation) Act, 2002” to facilitate and attract investment in the state.

 Under the amended Act, medium and small industries commence manufacturing without having to wait for any statutory clearances for the first three years.  Currently, only Gujarat and Rajasthan are the two states in the country that have amended this Act for small scale industries only. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao  These permissions include approvals from launched the sixth phase of Haritha Haram under multiple state laws, including trade programme by planting a Black Plum (Neredu) licence and building-plan approval, measures sapling in the Narsapur forest area in Medak district. that would save lot of time and cost for industries.

 The state has also simplified land and labour categories A1, A, B, C ,D and E of the Indian laws to promote Karnataka as an investment Railways. destination.  The scope of work also includes integration of the existing standalone CCTV network of Skin cream ‘Fair & Lovely’ to lose ‘Fair’ from the railways into the VSS system for name, says Hindustan Unilever centralised monitoring.

Indian Institute of Science develops Nanozymes

The Indian unit of Unilever Informed that it will drop the word “fair” from its “Fair & Lovely” range of products. A research team at the Indian Institute of Science in  The products have long been criticised for Bengaluru has developed nanozymes that destroy the promoting negative stereotypes against cell membrane of bacteria by directly targeting its people with darker skin. phospholipids.  The move comes as cosmetics companies have seen an increasing amount of backlash  Nanozymes are nanomaterials that can on social media in the wake of the Black disintegrate the cell membranes of a range of Lives Matter movement. diseases causing bacteria.  Products marketed as skin lightening have a  The study conducted by the Department of huge market in South Asia due to a societal Inorganic and Physical Chemistry and the obsession with fairer skin tones, but those Department of Microbiology and Cell notions are being questioned more Biology was published in ACS Applied frequently. BioMaterials journal.  The nanomaterial developed in IISc is tested RailTel to provide video surveillance at 6,049 on several potentially pathogenic bacteria stations across country causing typhoid, gastroenteritis, dysentery, cholera and pneumonia. The Indian Railways has signed a memorandum of  It was found that the nanozyme stopped understanding (MoU) with RailTel for installation of growth and killed the microbes. an IP-based video surveillance system at 6,049 railway stations across the country. RSWM joins hands with Switzerland''s HeiQ to offer anti-coronavirus fabric under Mayur  RailTel is a public sector undertaking (PSU) brand under the Ministry of Railways.  It will provide the video surveillance system (VSS) work at the 6,049 stations under

 It is an ambitious scheme to provide nutrition kits to pregnant and lactating women.  Pregnant women would be tested four times in nearby Primary Health Centers (PHC), and be given a nutrition kit after each test as per the Matru Pushti Uphaar scheme.  The kit, costing Rs500, would have food items and grocery supplies, such as peanuts, soybeans, mixed pulses, jaggery and ghee. As many as 40,000 women will benefit annually under the scheme. RSWM Ltd, the flagship firm of textiles major LNJ  The state government estimates to incur an Bhilwara Group has signed a strategic partnership expense of around Rs 8 crore for the scheme. with Switzerland''s HeiQ to offer anti-coronavirus  The state scheme will be in addition to the fabric under its Mayur brand. Pradhan Mantri Matru Bandana Yojana.

 It is launching anti-viral fabric range IOC launches battery swapping facility for quick ''ViroSecure'' through the partnership with recharge of EVs HeiQ, which has provided its antiviral ''Viroblock'' technology to formulate a protective coating on the fabric to offer 99.99 percent protection against SARS-CoV-2 in just 30 minutes.  "HeiQ ''Viroblock'' technology is among the first textile technologies in the world to have a proven effect against SARS-CoV-2 in the laboratory.  The ViroSecure fabric has been made by Mayur Suiting with HeiQ Viroblock technology and tested successfully by HeiQ''s Switzerland laboratories. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) and Sun Mobility announced the launch of a battery swapping Tripura announces schemes to combat infant, facility for electric vehicles (EVs) at IOC petrol maternal mortality, malnourishment pumps.

 It will offer to replace discharged batteries with fully charged ones in a procedure that would take only a few minutes.  IOC will begin with a pilot of battery swapping at one of its outlets in Chandigarh and gradually scale it up to 20 stations.  The battery swapping model is initially targeted at commercial vehicles such as electric autos, rickshaws and electric two- wheelers and EVs that are either factory fitted or retrofitted. In an effort to combat infant and maternal mortality and malnutrition, Tripura announced Mukhyamantri President Kovind wishes Prez Rajoelina, People Matru Pushti Uphaar. on Madagascar's 60th Independence Day

The Anti-Submarine Warfare capability of the Indian Navy received a major boost with the induction of the Advanced Torpedo Decoy System ‘Maareech’

 It is capable of being fired from all frontline warships.  Design and Development of this anti-torpedo decoy system has been undertaken indigenously by DRDO labs-(NSTL and NPOL).  The Bharat Electronics Limited, a Defence PSU, would undertake the production of this President Ram Nath Kovind extended warm wishes decoy system. and felicitations to his Madagascar counterpart Andry Rajoelina on the occasion of Madagascar's 'Surakshit Dada-Dadi, Nana-Nani Abhiyan' 60th Independence Day. launched to ensure well-being of Senior Citizens amid COVID-19 pandemic  Madagascar celebrated its 60th anniversary of its independence day with several restrictions due to concerns over COVID-19.  The celebration of this year was led by a military parade in front of the city hall, located in Antananarivo city center, with the theme "Madagascar, my homeland, my life, my heritage".  Madagascar, previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometres off the coast of East Africa.  At 592,800 square kilometres Madagascar is

the world's second-largest island country  Madagascar Capital: Antananarivo Surakshit Dada-Dadi, Nana-Nani Abhiyan is a  Currency: Malagasy ariary collaborative effort between NITI Aayog, Piramal Foundation. Indian Navy inducts indigenously developed Torpedo Decoy System Maareech  It ensures the well-being of 2.9 million Senior Citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.  NITI Aayog has launched this campaign following the appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take care of senior citizens.  Surendranagar district is one of the 25 aspirational districts of the country, which is implementing this scheme very successfully.  Piramal foundation with the help of social welfare department and district administration is implementing this campaign in Surendranagar district.

 They are also being helped to fulfill their For smooth conduct of the Bahuda Yatra of Lord essential requirements like medicines, ration Jagannath and his siblings without participation of or work related to ration cards. devotees, the Odisha government has decided to impose curfew in the Puri district in June. The Arjun Munda launches tribes India products on Bahuda Yatra (return chariot festival) of the deities GeM and new website of TRIFED will be held on July 1.

 Lord Jagannath and his siblings will return from Gundicha Temple on three wooden chariots during the Yatra.  After the Supreme Court allowed holding of Rath Yatra, the nine-day annual sojourn of the deities began on June 23.  The chariots were pulled by servitors, who had tested Covid-19 negative, to Gundicha Temple, nearly 3 km away from the Jagannath Temple.

Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda Karnataka CM lays foundation stone for 108-feet launched through a video conference the tribes India tall statue of Bengaluru founder Kempegowda products on Government e-Marketplace - GeM and a new website of TRIFED.

 The TRIBES India store on Government eMarketplace can now help in facilitating purchases by the government.  The new website has all relevant details about the schemes and initiatives to benefit tribal communities.  The Team of “Trifed Warriors” will take Tribal Commerce based on forest products, handlooms and handicrafts to a new high for transforming tribal lives and livelihoods. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the 108 feet tall bronze statue of Odisha government to impose curfew in Puri for Bengaluru founder Kempegowda near the state Bahuda Yatra capital’s international airport.

 The statue will cost around 78 crore rupees and is likely to be ready in a year and a half.  On the occasion of Kempegowda’s 511th Jayanti, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for the development of 23 acres theme park in memory of the founder of Bengaluru.  Kempegowda founded the city on scientific lines, creating civic amenities to suit the demands of people.

National Statistics Day: 29 June  He is well known for introducing major economic reforms in the country by ending the license raj.  The Former Prime Minister laid the foundation for trade liberalisation and the re- integration of the Indian economy with the global economy, especially East Asian economies.

MP govt to launch 'Kill Corona' campaign from July 1

The Government has been celebrating Statistics Day on June 29, to popularise the use of Statistics in everyday life.

 It has been designated as one of the Special Days to be celebrated at the national level and commemorates the birth anniversary of Prof P C Mahalanobis.  The day also commemorates contributions made by Mahalanobis in fields of statistics Madhya Pradesh government will launch a 'Kill and economic planning. Corona' campaign from July 1 to control the spread of coronavirus in the state. Year-long Centenary celebrations of former PM P. V. Narasimha Rao begins  Under the campaign, a door-to-door survey will be conducted and tests would also be done on citizens for other diseases.  During the 15-day 'Kill Corona' campaign in MP, 2.5 lakh tests will be carried out and 15,000 to 20,000 samples would be collected daily.  Health department officials informed that the testing capacity in the state will be doubled from 4,000 per 10 lakh people to 8,000 per 10 lakh people.  The recovery rate in Madhya Pradesh is 76.9 per cent, which is better than the national A year-long Centenary celebrations of former Prime recovery rate. Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao began with people of Telangana state fondly remembering him on his birth UP Government to form a dedicated force for anniversary. industrial security

 Rao served as the 9th Prime Minister of India between 1991 and 1996.

given Dexamethasone steroid as an alternative to Methylprednisolone.  Dexamethasone is a steroid that has been used since the 1960s to reduce inflammation in a range of conditions, including inflammatory disorders and certain cancers.  It has been listed on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines since 1977 in multiple formulations, and is currently off-patent and affordable in most countries.

Culture Ministry to celebrate ‘Sankalp Parva’ to Uttar Pradesh government has decided to form a plant trees from 28th June to 12 July 2020 dedicated force for security of courts, metro rail, airports, industrial establishments, banks and other organizations in the state.

 Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to constitute the Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (UPSSF) for this purpose.  The force will be given special training and will be provided with security equipment. It can be placed at important establishments including religious places.  In the first phase, five battalions of such force On the call of the Prime Minister, the Union Culture will be constituted and the chief minister has Ministry will celebrate “Sankalp Parva” to plant trees directed the officials to present a detailed from 28th June to 12 July 2020. plan in this regard.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for Govt approves use of Dexamethasone steroid planting at least five trees either in Office campus or wherever it is possible, to ensure a clean and healthy environment of the country.  The Ministry of Culture recommends plants following five trees which represent the herbal heritage of our country: (i) “Bargad” (ii) “Awla” (iii) “Pepal” (iv) “Ashok” (v) “Bel”.

Agreement for Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan signed in presence of EAM S Jaishankar

Union Health Ministry has revised clinical The Concession Agreement for the 600 MegaWatt management protocol for treating Covid-19 patients. Kholongchhu (Joint Venture) Hydroelectric Project between Bhutan, Indian government, and  Moderate and severe coronavirus patients, in Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited was signed in need of oxygen support who experience Thimphu. excessive inflammatory response, can now be

 The 600 MW run-of-the-river project is Housing Sector Strengthening Programme located on the lower course of the and $50 million Tamil Nadu Housing and Kholongchhu River in Trashiyangtse District Habitat Development Project. in Eastern Bhutan.  The loans will strengthen the state’s housing  The Project envisages an underground sector policies, institutions, and regulations. powerhouse of four 150 MW turbines with  Nearly half of Tamil Nadu’s population is water impounded by a concrete gravity dam urban, and this is expected to increase to 63 of 95 meters height. percent by 2030.  The project is expected to be completed in the  An estimated 6 million people are currently second half of 2025. living in slums (representing 16.6 percent of the state’s urban population). Ban on 59 Chinese apps for safety, security and integrity of India World Bank approves USD 500 million loan to improve education system in 6 Indian states

India banned 59 Chinese mobile applications amid border stand-off with the neighbouring country. The World Bank has approved a USD 500 million  The government has cited national security (about Rs 3,700 crore) loan to improve quality and for banning these apps. governance of school education in six Indian states.

 The ban covers some of the most popular  The board approved a loan for Strengthening apps in India like TikTok, SHAREIT, UC Teaching-Learning and Results for States Browser and WeChat. Program (STARS).  Almost all the apps banned have some  These six states are: Himachal Pradesh, preferential Chinese interest and the majority Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, have parent Chinese companies. Odisha, and Rajasthan.  Around 25 crore students (between the age of India, World Bank sign loan agreements for 6 and 17) in 15 lakh schools and over 1 crore housing sector in Tamil Nadu teachers will benefit from the programme.

The government of India, government of Tamil Nadu NFL launches five Mobile Soil Testing Labs for and the World Bank signed legal agreements to help testing the soil samples at farmers' doorstep low-income groups in the state of Tamil Nadu get access to affordable housing.

 The legal agreements were signed for two projects – $200 million First Tamil Nadu

Pradesh Education Center has prepared a ‘Hamara Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya’ scheme.

 Under this initiative children will be taught at home in a school-like environment.  In Madhya Pradesh, the school bell will be ringing in the houses of the state too from July 6.  Children will read, perform yoga, write and listen to stories and make notes on them.

Project Platina - world's largest convalescent National Fertilizers Limited- NFL has launched five plasma therapy project launched in Maharashtra Mobile Soil Testing Labs for testing the soil samples at the doorstep of farmers free of cost.

 It will give further boost to the Soil Testing facility in the country for promoting appropriate use of fertilizers.  Chairman and Managing Director of NFL V N Datt flagged off one such Mobile Lab from the premises of NFL Corporate Office in Noida.  These Mobile Labs, loaded with the latest soil

testing equipment will be used for macro and micro nutrient analysis of soil. In a notable pioneering exercise, Maharashtra Chief  NFL Headquarters: Noida Minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced that his  Founded: 1 September 1979 government will use Rs 16.65 crore to sponsor the  Chairman and Managing Director: V N Datt execution of a convalescent plasma therapy-cum- trial project for treatment of critical COVID-19 Madhya Pradesh launches ‘Hamara Ghar- patients. Hamara Vidyalaya’ campaign  This project of therapy and trial is also being dubbed as the world's largest project of its kind.  ‘Project PLATINA’-World’s largest convalescent plasma therapy trial cum treatment of severe COVID 19 patients was launched by & inaugurated by CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.  In convalescent plasma therapy, antibodies from the blood of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 are used to treat serious patients.

In order to maintain the academic regularity of Uttarakhand forest department develops India’s students during the Corona crisis, the Madhya first lichen park in Munsiyari

 The negative outlook reflects dominant, mutually-reinforcing, downside risks from deeper stresses in the economy and financial system that could lead to a more severe and prolonged erosion in fiscal strength than Moody’s current projects.  'Baa3' rating is the lowest investment grade - - just a notch above 'junk' status.  Moody's had last downgraded India's rating in 1998. Uttarakhand forest department has developed what it IndusInd Bank launches mobile based current claims is the country’s first lichen park in Munsiyari. account opening facility

 The park is developed across 1.5 hectares in Patalthor. The department had started developing the park in 2019.  The park has been developed with an aim to conserve, protect, and cultivate lichens and to create awareness among locals regarding their importance.  Lichens need clean air to grow as they perish when the air is polluted. IndusInd Bank announced the launch of a first-of-its- kind assisted mobile application based facility, that enables the Bank to open current accounts for self- employed individuals and businesses digitally, in just

a few hours. Moody’s downgrades India’s rating, maintains negative outlook  Equipped with the Bank's state-of-the-art 'Indus Corporate' mobile app, bank officials can now capture and verify information about customers and their businesses in real-time.  With this, customers can now experience a faster and seamless account opening journey with the bank, without the hassle of arranging physical KYC documents of themselves or their firm.

HDFC Bank launches summer treats

HDFC Bank has recently launched “Summer Treats” Moody's Investors Service downgraded the campaign. Government of India's foreign-currency and local- currency long-term issuer ratings to Baa3 from Baa2  The special campaign has been launched by and also downgraded India's local-currency senior the bank with the easing of the lockdown unsecured rating to Baa3 from Baa2. restrictions in order to provide offers to both

merchants and, salaried and self-employed customers.  Under the “Summer Treats” campaign, bank will offer no cost EMI and no down payment for large appliances.  It will also offer discounts and cashbacks on select brands along with 50% extra reward points on online spend using credit cards.

India's economy to contract by 3.2 per cent in fiscal year 2020-21: World Bank The World Bank has given Rs. 1,950 crore loans to the West Bengal Government for tackling COVID situation and developmental work in the State.

 Out of it, Rs. 1,100 crore will be spent for creating Industrial infrastructures.  Remaining Rs. 850 crore have been allocated for spending on various Social-Welfare schemes.

CBIC launches its flagship programme 'Turant Customs' at Bengaluru & Chennai

The World Bank expects India's economy to contract 3.2% in the current fiscal year, a sharp downgrade from its April projection of 1.5%-2.8% growth.

 The Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report released said the lockdown would severely curtail activity despite fiscal and monetary stimulus.  The latest report expects the economy to make a modest recovery to 3.1% growth in the next fiscal year. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, CBIC  A number of firms including Goldman Sachs launched its flagship programme Turant Customs, at and Nomura have projected a contraction of Bengaluru and Chennai. as much as 5% for India in FY21.  This is a giant leap forward to leverage World Bank lends Rs. 1,950 crore loans to W technology for faster Customs clearance of Bengal Govt for tackling COVID situation imported goods.  Importers will now get their goods cleared from Customs after a faceless assessment is done remotely by the Customs officers located outside the port of import.  Now, the goods imported at Chennai may be assessed by the Customs officers located at

Bengaluru and vice versa, as assigned by the  Earlier this week, the company announced a Customs’ automated system. successful closure of Rs 53,124 crore rights  Turant Customs is a mega reform for the ease issue and would raise 25 percent of it (Rs of doing business. 13,281 crore) this year.  The start of Turant Customs at Bengaluru and Chennai will be the first phase of the All India Indian economy to grow at 9.5 pct in next fiscal, roll out which will get completed by 31st says Fitch Ratings December this year.  CBIC Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar  Founded: 1 January 1964  Headquarters: New Delhi

RIL to sell 1.16% in Jio to Abu Dhabi Investment Authority for Rs 5,684 cr

After a contraction in the current financial year, India's economy is forecast to bounce back with a sharp growth rate of 9.5 percent next fiscal, Fitch Ratings has said.

It has forecast a 5 percent contraction in the GDP in the ongoing financial year.

 After the global crisis, India's GDP growth is Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced 1.16 likely to return to higher levels than 'BBB' per cent stake sale in Jio Platforms, its digital category peers. services subsidiary, to Abu Dhabi Investment  The government has announced stimulus Authority for Rs 5,683.50 crore. measures amounting to 10 percent of GDP.

 This is the eighth investment in Jio Platforms 29% rise in Asiatic lion population in Gir in seven weeks and values the company at Rs 4.91 trillion on equity value basis.  So far, RIL has raised Rs 97,885.65 crore through 21.06 per cent stake sale to seven marquee investors, including Facebook and private equity firms like KKR and General Atlantic.  RIL had a net debt of Rs 1.6 trillion as of March end.  The company has advanced its debt reduction target and plans to make the firm debt free by December end through a mix of stake sale in Jio, cash profit through operations, rights issue, and divestment of 49 per cent share in fuel retailing business to BP.

The Gujarat forest department said that the number  Country's largest lender State Bank of India of Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region has increased (SBI) has reduced its MCLR by 25 basis by 29 per cent to 674. points across all tenors from.  While private sector lender HDFC Bank has  The department carried out a `population cut its MCLRs by 5 bps, state-run Bank of estimation exercise' on the night of June 5 and Maharashtra has reduced it by 20 basis points 6 when there was a full moon. from June 8.  As per the May 2015 census, there were 523 Asiatic lions in Gir, an increase of 27 per cent Customs duty hiked on bamboo imports from from 2010. 10% to 25%  The "Poonam Avlokan (full-moon night estimation exercise)" showed that the lions' population had reached 674, a 28.87 percent increase.  It was the highest growth rate recorded so far, it added.  The population of 674 comprised 161 males, 260 females, 116 sub-adult lions and 137 cubs.

Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India reduce MCLR across all tenors Union Government has hiked Customs duty on bamboo imports by agarbatti manufacturers from 10 per cent to 25 per cent with immediate effect.

 The decision has been taken to encourage use of domestic bamboo under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat scheme.  The 25 per cent customs duty rate shall now uniformly apply to any import of bamboo, including by traders.  This measure is seen to benefit farmers and MSME agarbatti manufacturers. State-run lenders Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Union Bank of India (UBI) have announced cut in their TCS iON partners with NSDC to accelerate skill marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) development across all tenors.

 Bank of Baroda has revised its one-year MCLR to 7.65 per cent from 7.80 per cent. Its six-month MCLR has been revised downwards to 7.50 per cent from 7.65 percent earlier.  Union Bank of India has reduced its one-year MCLR to 7.60 per cent from 7.70 per cent.  The six months MCLR of UBI has been cut

to 7.45 per cent.

TCS iON, a strategic unit of Tata Consultancy  NFL has five gas based Ammonia-Urea Services, has partnered with the National Skill plants in Nangal and Bathinda plants in Development Corporation (NSDC) to provide its Punjab, Panipat plant in Haryana and two training partners access to digital skilling tools using plants at Vijaipur in Guna District of Madhya TCS' iON Digital Glass Room. Pradesh.

 The partnership aims to strengthen NSDC's Kerala Startup launches mask disposal online content aggregation platform - eSkill smart bin & UV light-based disinfection India. device  It enables e-learning amongst skill seekers and will contribute towards strengthening the Skill India mission.  The TCS iON Digital Glass Room is a web- based digital education platform that empowers educators to engage with students in real-time by uploading and sharing their own lessons.

NFL inks MoU with ITI Nangal for training of youth in 12 trades for employment VST Mobility Solutions, a Startup headquartered at Cochin, has launched an automated mask disposal machine.

 The disposal device has been named as BIN-19.  The IoT-based BIN-19 (Internet of Things) is used for collecting and disinfecting Used Face-Mask.  The device has been subjected to a series of successful microbiological tests by Sree Chitra Lab. National Fertilizers Limited, NFL has started tying  Sree Chitra is one of the testing agency up with Industrial Training Institutes located near to for UV based devices in the country as its plants to train youth in various trades and to per the guidelines of the Indian Council enhance the chances of their employability in heavy of Medical Research (ICMR). and process industry.  The disinfecting device will be very handy in offices, homes, and other  The Nangal plant of the company in Punjab public places. has signed an MoU with ITI, Nangal to train youth in 12 trades. Himachal launches ‘Panchvati’ Yojana for  The students will be skilled under the Dual the elderly folks System of Training Scheme under which they will learn theoretical skills in the institute and on-the-job training in NFL Nangal plant.  ITI, Nangal is one of the oldest institutes in Punjab.

 The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to tailors, barbers and washermen.  The scheme provides one-time financial assistance of ₹10,000 each to the 2.47 lakh beneficiaries under 60 years of age.  Under the scheme, 82,347 Rajakas (dhobis), 38,767 Nayee Brahmins

(barbers) and 1.25 lakh tailors were provided with financial assistance. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched ‘Panchvati Yojna’ for senior Empays Payment Systems partners with citizens of rural areas of the state. Mastercard for cardless ATMs

 Under this parks and gardens would be developed in every development block with necessary facilities.  The main objective of this Yojna, which is being taken up in link up with MNREGA scheme, is to provide opportunity to the elderly people to spend their leisure time strolling in these parks and gardens.  The Ayurvedic and medicinal plants would be grown there besides providing With concerns over the spread of the recreational equipment, walking tracks coronavirus from contaminated surfaces, and other basic amenities for elderly banks and payment companies are working people. on contactless ATM technologies.  During the current financial year as many as 100 such parks would be  Empays Payment Systems, which runs developed in different parts of the State. the IMT Payment System, announced a partnership with Mastercard to launch Andhra CM launches 'Jagananna Chedodu' ‘Cardless ATM powered by Mastercard’ scheme for tailors, barbers and washermen in India.  The facility will help users digitally locate the nearest enabled ATM and initiate a withdrawal by simply scanning a QR code on the mobile phone, using their banking app.

India's foreign exchange reserves surge to cross half-a-trillion mark for 1st time

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the 'Jagananna Chedodu' scheme.

The Reserve Bank of India has constituted a five- member Internal Working Group to review the guidelines related to ownership, governance and corporate structure of private sector banks.

 The RBI Central Board Director P K Mohanty will head the committee, which will submit its report by 30th September, 2020.  The panel will also examine norms for promoter shareholding at the initial/licensing stage and subsequently, along with the timelines for dilution of the shareholding. India's foreign exchange reserves have surged by a  The panel has also been asked to examine massive 8.22 billion dollars to cross the half-a- and review the eligibility criteria for trillion mark for the first time. individuals or entities to apply for banking licence and make recommendations on all  The reserves rose to 501.70 billion dollars related issues. for the week ended 5th of June, helped by a whopping rise in foreign currency assets. Airtel Payments Bank launches new salary  In the previous week, the reserves had account for MSMEs advanced by 3.44 billion dollars to end at 493.48 billion dollars.  Total value of the gold reserves, however, continued to decline.  Gold reserves declined by 329 million dollars to end at 32.352 billion dollars.  India's special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund went up by 10 million dollars to 1.44 billion dollars, while the country's reserve position also rose by 120 million dollars to 4.28 billion dollars.

RBI sets up panel to review ownership, corporate structure of private sector banks Airtel Payments Bank launched a new salary account for micro, small and medium enterprises.

 Called the Suraksha Salary account, it will enable MSMEs and other organisations to make cashless payments and provide a financial security blanket to their employees.  The account has no minimum balance condition.  It offers no charges on cash withdrawals of upto Rs 50,000 and deposits of upto Rs 20,000 in one month.

 The account holder also gets two free cardless cash withdrawal via IMT at ATMs across the country.  The account holder can make online money transfers to any bank across India.

ICICI Bank launches ‘Insta Flexicash’ paperless overdraft facility for salary accounts

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has partnered with Karur Vysya Bank to offer simpler and flexible financing schemes for new customers.

 Through the partnership with the bank, the company is seeking to offer prospective buyers special scheme of up to 100 per cent on road funding with six months holiday ICICI Bank has launched an overdraft (OD) facility, period on all models, loans for both salaried Insta FlexiCash, for its salaried account customers and self-employed customers and repayment who are facing a cash crunch. period up to 84 months.  Karur Vysya Bank offers customers in-  It is designed to protect ICICI Bank Salary principle loan sanction in 15 minutes and Account customers from missing their existing customer of the bank can get their Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) or loans disbursed on the same day with the cheque bounces due to insufficient funds by entire process from application to providing short-term instant credit. disbursement of the loan being digitised with  Customers can easily avail of this facility by no manual intervention. initiating their application online.  The schemes through the partnership will be  Insta Flexicash is an end-to-end fully digital available across Maruti Suzuki's network of facility which can be availed using the bank's 3,086 new car retail outlets across 1,964 Internet banking platform. cities and towns, along with 780 branches of  The facility can be sanctioned immediately Karur Vysya Bank across 22 states across while customers can start using the approved India. OD limit within 48 hours.  The interest payable on the OD is calculated Karnataka Bank launches Covid-19 health cover on the basis of the actual amount availed by the customer, not on the full amount of the Karnataka Bank has launched a health insurance OD sanctioned. policy to cover the uncertainties posed by the Covid- 19 pandemic. Maruti partners with Karur Vysya Bank for flexible financing schemes  To protect the health of the common man, Karnataka Bank has launched a special health insurance policy to cover the uncertainties posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

 The private sector bank said the health cover can be availed at a nominal premium of Rs 399, inclusive of all taxes.  The policy will cover in-patient hospital expenses up to Rs 3 lakh, outpatient treatment expenses of Rs 3,000, and will also provide a sum of Rs 1,000 per day towards expenses incurred towards 14 days of quarantine at a government or military hospital.  The validity of this policy is for a period of 120 days.

 The policy is available to all the customers of the bank in the age group of 18-65 years. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has joined the elite club of the world’s top 10 richest RIL becomes India's first $150 billion company people, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index released on 20 June 2020.

 He is ranked as the 9th richest person in the world, in the latest update.  The net worth of Ambani jumped to $64.5 billion as of 20 June, making him the only Asian tycoon to feature in the top 10 richest people list.  With a total net worth of $160 billion, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is still the wealthiest person in the world. He is followed by Bill Gates ($112 billion) and Mark Zuckerberg ($90.6 billion).

The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has reached a Atal Innovation Mission partners with CIL to $150-billion mark in terms of market capitalization. boost its entrepreneurship initiatives

 Hence, the Mukesh Ambani-helmed RIL has become India’s first $150-billion company in terms of market capitalisation.  RIL achieved this milestone when its share price had gained 6.23% to close at Rs 1,759, taking its market capitalisation to Rs 11.15 lakh crore i.e. around $150 billion.  Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries (RIL) has entered into the list of world's top 10 richest, according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaire list. Coal India Limited (CIL) has agreed to partner with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog to Ambani, Asia’s Wealthiest Man, Joins Club of proactively support the flagship mission’s innovation World’s 10 Richest and entrepreneurship initiatives across the country.

 A Statement of Intent (SoI) of a strategic will be able to withdraw their entire account partnership between AIM and Coal India balance. Limited was signed and exchanged in a  The withdrawal limit was last enhanced to Rs virtual e-summit for the same. 50,000 per depositor on Nov. 5, 2019, and the  AIM has various innovation programs and restrictions extended up to June 22, 2020. entrepreneurial ecosystem building initiatives such as Atal Tinkering Labs ( Exim Bank extends USD 20.1 mn credit line to ATL) at a school level, Atal Incubation Nicaragua govt Centres at institutional levels, Atal Community Innovation Centres ( ACIC) for Tier-2, Tier3 cities and rural India, Atal New India Challenges at industry level and Applied Research and Innovation for stimulating innovations in the MSME industry.

RBI Doubles Withdrawal Limit To Rs 1 Lakh For PMC Bank Depositors

Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has extended a line of credit (LOC) of USD 20.10 million to the government of Nicaragua for reconstruction of Aldo Chavarria Hospital.

 With signing of this agreement, Exim Bank, so far, has extended four LOCs to Nicaragua, on behalf of the Indian government, taking the total value to USD 87.63 million.  Projects covered under the LOCs include In a relief to the depositors of fraud-hit PMC Bank, supply of equipment for building two the Reserve Bank of India enhanced the withdrawal substations, construction of transmission limit to Rs 1 lakh while extending the regulatory lines, building new substations, expansion of restriction on the cooperative bank by another six the existing substations and reconstruction of months till Dec. 22. a hospital.  Post the signing of this LOC agreement,  The earlier withdrawal limit was Rs 50,000 Exim Bank has now in place 261 LOCs, per depositor. covering 62 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin  The RBI had placed regulatory curbs on the America and the CIS, with credit Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank commitments of around USD 25.70 billion, Limited, Mumbai, on Sept. 23, 2019, after available for financing exports from India. finding out certain financial irregularities, hiding and misreporting of loans given to real Yes Bank launches co-branded cashless card estate developer HDIL. with Affordplan for heathcare needs  With the latest relaxation on withdrawal, more than 84% of the depositors of the bank

 This is much lower than the 1.9% positive growth the IMF had forecast in its World Economic Outlook for April.  India had imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25. The lockdown was slowly eased, and by June 1, most non-essential services had been allowed to operate in non- containment zones in the country, subject to policies made by states.  The report said that the Indian economy will bounce back in 2021-’22 with a growth rate of around 6%.  The IMF also said that the world economy will experience an even deeper recession in Indian lender Yes Bank has joined forces with 2020-’21. It will contract by 4.9% in 2020- healthcare fintech Affordplan to launch a co-branded ’21. healthcare card to enable families to plan and manage  The United States economy will contract by their healthcare finance needs. a whopping 8%, the IMF said.

 The new card is part of the Delhi-based Government approves 2% interest subsidy to fintech’s ‘Swasth programme’, and therefore 'Shishu' borrowers under Mudra Yojna named as ‘Swasth Card’.  In addition, the lender has also integrated its wallet on Affordplan Swasth app to enable wallet QR scan for making payments to the merchant.  Customers can apply for the RuPay prepaid card through this wallet.

IMF says Indian economy will contract by 4.5% in 2020-’21

The government announced a 2% interest subvention to borrowers under the 'Shishu' category of the flagship Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY).

 Under the Shishu category, collateral free loans of up to ₹50,000 will be given to beneficiaries.  Launched in 2015, the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana provides loans up to ₹10 The International Monetary Fund announced that lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro India's Gross Domestic Product will contract by enterprises. 4.5% in the 2020-’21 financial year.  These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY.

 Commercial banks, RRBs, small finance  The Navi lending app will provide instant banks, MFIs and NBFCs provide MUDRA loans of up to ₹5 lakh with repayment tenures loans. of up to 36 months.  The loan process is done completely using Gujarat govt''s online aid of Rs 1,369 crore for digital and contactless processes for MSMEs, textile industry customers.  The app is currently available for download on the Android platform, through which customers can check their eligibility, select the loan and EMI amount, and enter their PAN and Aadhaar card number to receive the loan amount in their bank account within minutes.  The process is entirely paperless and does not require customers to upload any documents like payslips or bank statements.

PhonePe tie-up with ICICI Bank on UPI multi- bank model Gujarat govt' announced an aid of Rs 1,369 crore for micro small and medium enterprises and textile industries.

 He also kickstarted the online cash aid initiative - ''At One Click'' - for around 13,000 MSMEs in Gujarat.  The Chief Minister has called upon the state''s MSME units and industries to take up the challenge of converting this adversity of

corona crisis into an opportunity.  The Chief Minister started the initiative ''At PhonePe has partnered with ICICI Bank on UPI one click'' with Rs 768 crore in bank accounts multi-bank model. of 12,247 MSME units in Gujarat and also Rs 601 crore aid to bigger industrial units  Through this partnership, Phonepe gives its including textile industry. users the option to create and use multiple  Thus, a total of Rs 1,369 crore in aid was UPI IDs with ICICI and Yes Bank”s handles facilitated for around 13,000 units in the on the PhonePe app. state.  The PhonePe customers will now be able to choose between multiple handles for their Sachin Bansal’s Navi launches new instant UPI IDs, thus making payments easy, secure lending app with paperless KYC and accessible to all.

Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal's financial services startup Navi has launched a mobile app to provide instant personal loans targeted at consumers in the middle-income segment.

Arun Singhal appointed as CEO of FSSAI

 At present, Kumar is serving as Indian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union.  Her appointment to the high-profile post comes at a time India is looking at further expanding ties with the UK after it came out of the powerful European Union.

Adesh Kumar Gupta replaces Manoj Tiwari as Delhi BJP chief

The appointment of Arun Singhal as Chief Executive Officer of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

 Arun Singhal is currently serving as the special secretary to the department of health and family welfare.  He will replace GSG Ayyangar as the CEO of the food regulator.  FSSAI is the food regulatory agency in India BJP President J P Nadda has appointed former mayor which is in charge for setting up standards for of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation Adesh the food industry and also to regulate the Kumar Gupta as the new Chief of party's Delhi Unit manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale, replacing Manoj Tiwari. and import of foods.

 Mr Tiwari had been appointed as the BJP Gaitri Kumar appointed India''s next High Delhi Unit Chief in 2016. Commissioner to the UK  Besides, Mr Nadda also named former Union Minister Vishnu Deo Sai as its Chhattisgarh State President and S Tikendra Singh as its Manipur State Chief.

Twitter appoints ex-Google CFO as new board chairman

Seasoned diplomat Gaitri Kumar has been appointed as India''s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

 Kumar, a 1986-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, succeeds Ruchi Ghanashyam.

Twitter has appointed ex-Google chief financial officer (CFO) Patrick Pichette as the company's new chairman of the board.

 Pichette who joined Twitter's board of directors in 2017, earlier previously served as Google's CFO from 2008 till 2015.  Pichette will take over from Omid Kordestani who will remain on Twitter's board.

Uday Kotak takes over as CII president Award-winning television producer Krishnendu Majumdar has been named as the chairperson of BAFTA.

 Majumdar, who succeeds Pippa Harris to the post, is the youngest to be appointed as head in last 35 years of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).  Majumdar has been deputy chair for one year and is due to remain as chair for the next three years.  Majumdar previously served as the chair of the Learning and New Talent Committee (2006-2010), the chair of the Television Veteran banker Uday Kotak has assumed office as Committee (2015-2019) and a member of the the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry board of trustees for nine years. (CII) for 2020-21. V N Datt becomes new CMD of National  Kotak, managing director and CEO of Kotak Fertilizers Limited Mahindra Bank Limited takes over from Vikram Kirloskar, chairman and managing director of Kirloskar Systems.  T V Narendran, CEO and managing director of Tata Steel Limited, is now the president designate of CII for 2020-21, it said.  Sanjiv Bajaj takes over as CII vice president for 2020-21. He is the chairman and managing director of Bajaj Finserv Limited.  Kotak was appointed as non-executive chairman of the new IL&FS board to steer the company out of its financial crisis. He was also chairman of the Sebi panel on corporate National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) Marketing governance. Director, Virendra Nath Datt has taken additional charge of Chairman & Managing Director of the Krishnendu Majumdar becomes new chairman of Company. BAFTA  He will replace Manoj Mishra.  National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) is a state- owned Miniratna (Cat-1) company and

producer of chemical fertilizers, organic Seasoned diplomat and former spokesperson of the fertilizers and industrial chemicals. External Affairs Ministry Raveesh Kumar has been  Prior to joining NFL, he was Executive appointed as India's next Ambassador to Finland. Director in GAIL (India) Limited. He also had a 10-year stint with ONGC before joining  Mr Kumar, a 1995-batch Indian Foreign GAIL in 1995. Service officer, served as the spokesperson of the MEA from July 2017 to April 2020. Sushil Singhal appointed India’s next High  Raveesh Kumar will replace Vani Rao as the Commissioner to Papua New Guinea next Ambassador of India to Finland.

Brajendra Navnit becomes India’s new ambassador to WTO

Sushil Kumar Singhal has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. India has appointed Brajendra Navnit as India’s new  He is presently serving as the Joint Secretary ambassador to the World Trade Organization in the Ministry of External Affairs. (WTO).  Sushil Kumar Singhal will replace Vijay Kumar as the next High Commissioner of  He is a 1999 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu India to the Independent State of Papua New cadre. Guinea.  He will be posted at the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) to the WTO in Geneva. Raveesh Kumar Appointed India's Next  The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Ambassador To Finland which approved Navnit’s foreign post, also gave a nod to the appointment of Anwar Hussain Shaik for the post of Counsellor, at the PMI to WTO, Geneva. He is a 2000 batch IRTS officer.

DLF’s Chairman K.P. Singh Retires

Kushal Pal Singh retired as the Chairman of property firm Delhi Land & Finance Limited (DLF).

 Rajiv Singh has been appointed as the new chairman of DLF while Kushal Pal Singh was made chairman emeritus.

 Kushal Pal Singh joined the DLF company in Society forums at the UN conferences in New 1946 and took over as chairman of DLF on York and Geneva. October 1, 1995.  The Dixon Scholarship has awarded Nethra a  Under his leadership, the property firm DLF scholarship amount of Rs 1,00,000. expanded beyond Gurgaon, building  The 13-year old girl convinced her father C. apartments, shopping malls, and hotels. Mohan to spend their savings of Rs 5 lakh and donate essential items to the poor during the Rahul Shrivastava appointed as next Ambassador lockdown. of India to Romania  The money had been saved for Nethra’s education and for her to pursue her goal of entering the civil service.

Monika Kapil Mohta appointed India's next Ambassador to Switzerland

Rahul Shrivastava, a senior diplomat has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Romania.

 Mr Shrivastava, a 1999 batch IFS officer is presently a joint secretary in the ministry.  He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Diplomat Monika Kapil Mohta has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Switzerland, the M Nethra declared as ‘Goodwill Ambassador for Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced. the Poor’ by UNADAP  Presently, Mohta, an Indian Foreign Service officer of 1985 batch, is India's Ambassador to Sweden.  Mohta has served as the Ambassador of India to Poland and Lithuania from July 2011 to January 2015.  She served as the Director of The Nehru Centre and Minister (Culture) at the High Commission of India to the United Kingdom from 2006 to 2011.  She has also served at Indian Embassies in France, Nepal, and Thailand, and in the In Tamil Nadu, 13-year old girl, M Nethra has been Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO. appointed as the ‘Goodwill Ambassador for the Poor’ by the United Nations Association for Development and Peace (UNADAP). Anmol Narang becomes first observant sikh to graduate from US Military Academy  The UNADAP recognition brings to the girl the opportunity to address the upcoming Civil

 The absence of a permanent CEO at such a large fund house may have been one of the concerns for SEBI.  The fund house had average assets under management of Rs 1.5 trillion in the March quarter.

Pankaj Tripathi became the brand ambassador of Bihar Khadi

Second Lieutenant Anmol Narang is all set to create history. She will become the first observant Sikh to graduate from the United States (US) Military Academy.

 The graduation ceremony will take place at the US Military Academy at West Point.  In 1987, the US Congress passed a law that

prohibited Sikhs and several other religious communities from maintaining their articles Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi has been appointed of faith while in the military, despite a history as the brand ambassador of Bihar Khadi by the state of diverse service and simple government accommodations.  In November last year, Chief Minister CM Imtaiyazur Rahman is appointed as the CEO of Nitish Kumar inaugurates country's first UTI Mutual Fund Khadi Mall in Patna.  The Khadi Village Industries Board has instructed all Khadi institutions to produce new designs of Khadi garments to increase production and sales.  The Madhubani Khadi of the state is being promoted throughout the country.

Attorney General K K Venugopa to get 1-year extension

UTI Asset Management Company (AMC) appointed Imtaiyazur Rahman (pictured) as its chief executive officer (CEO).

 Rahman was appointed interim CEO in 2018 after Leo Puri’s term came to an end.

Noted constitutional expert KK Venugopal will continue as the Attorney General of India for one more year.

 He has accepted the government’s request to serve as the top law officer of the country beyond June 30 when his current three-year tenure expires.  Venugopal, a leading lawyer of the country, was appointed as Attorney General and succeeded Mukul Rohatgi on June 30, 2017.  Known as a doyen of Indian Bar, Venugopal has appeared for the Centre in Aadhaar and Rafale cases, among others, in the Supreme Former Supreme Court judge DK Jain will continue Court. as Board of Control for Cricket in India’s ethics  He is defending the Union government in officer and ombudsman after getting a one-year other important cases including those related extension from the cricket Board. to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.  Jain was appointed by the Supreme Court in February 2019 as BCCI’s first-ever Shambhu S Kumaran appointed India's next ombudsman. envoy to Philippines  He was later given the additional role of ethics officer.  His term ended on February 29 this year but his contract was renewed only last week.

Two Indian firms in WEF list of tech pioneers for 2020

Diplomat Shambhu S Kumaran has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Philippines.

 Kumaran is presently Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Morocco.  During January 2016-May 2019, he was on

deputation to the Ministry of Defence as Joint Secretary (Planning and International Two Indian firms - ZestMoney and Stellapps - figure Cooperation). in a new list of Tech Pioneers released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). BCCI’s DK Jain gets one-year extension as ethics officer and ombudsman  The list described these 100 entities as future headline-makers addressing global issues with cutting-edge technology.

 From artificial intelligence (AI) to carbon Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel named NIPFP capture, these companies are using chairman innovations to protect the climate, improve healthcare and much more, helping us to reset society and build towards a better future.  This year's class of Technology Pioneers are improving society and advancing their industries around the world.

JSW Cement ropes in Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Chhetri as brand ambassadors

Former Reserve Bank governor Urjit Patel will take charge as chairman of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) from June 22.

 Patel will replace Vijay Kelkar, who assumed office on November 1, 2014.  Urjit Patel has earlier served as the Governor as well as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).  He resigned as the Governor of RBI in Cement brand, JSW Cement has roped in former December 2018. cricketer and current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly US Senate confirms Dr Sethuraman as well as captain of the Indian national football team Panchanathan as head of National Science and Bengaluru FC, Sunil Chhetri as its brand Foundation ambassadors.

 The company is also rolling out its new multi- media marketing campaign ‘Leader’s Choice’ featuring both these sports icons on June 20th across West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.  The Leader’s Choice campaign is based on the philosophy of building a solid foundation for a better tomorrow.  Sourav Ganguly is the former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian Cricket team.  He is presently serving as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The US Senate has confirmed eminent Indian- American scientist Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan as  Sunil Chhetri is the captain of the Indian national football team and Bengaluru FC. the Director of the National Science Foundation.

 NSF is a top American body supporting IFTAS announces the appointment of Shri T. fundamental research in non-medical fields Rabi Sankar as chairman of science and engineering.  Panchanathan would head the NSF, the top American science funding body that has an annual budget of USD 7.4 billion.  He would replace France Cordova, whose six-year term ended in March, as the 15th director of the NSF. He is expected to take office on July 6.  He is the second Indian-American ever to be nominated to the prestigious science position with the first being Dr Subra Suresh who served from October 2010 to March 2013. Indian Financial Technology & Allied Services (IFTAS) has announced the appointment of T Rabi National champion Niki Poonacha elected to ITF Sankar as the Chairman of the organization. panel  IFTAS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India.  T Rabi Sankar, currently serving as Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India for Payment Systems, Information Technology, Risk Management and Fintech has taken over concurrent charge, ex officio, as the Chairman of IFTAS.  Agency also appoints Dr N Rajendran as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization.

Wasim Jaffer appointed head coach of Uttarakhand cricket team National champion Niki Poonacha has been elected to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) men’s player panel and will represent the Asia-Oceania zone along with Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei.

 Aldin Setkic and Francesco Vilardo were elected from Europe, while Juan Pablo Paz and Jose Bendeck were elected to represent South America.  The ITF also has a women’s player panel with Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan from Asia.  The men’s and women’s panels will be Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has been headed by Mark Woodforde and Mary appointed head coach of the Uttarakhand cricket Pierce, respectively, who are already athlete team for the upcoming domestic season. representatives on the ITF board of directors.  A coach will also be included into the player  The highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy, Jaffer panels. had announced retirement in March this year

after playing for over two decades, primarily  He was elected as its lifetime chairman in for domestic giants Mumbai and Vidarbha. 2003.  This will be his first stint as a head coach with  He named Rawalpindi-based Abdullah a team. Geelani as his successor amid speculation  Uttarakhand had reached the quarterfinals in that he was doing ISI's bidding. their debut Ranji Trophy season in 2018-19,  All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), or where they lost to Vidarbha, by an innings Tehreek e Hurriyat is an alliance of 26 and 115 runs. political, social and religious organizations formed as a united political front to raise the IAS officer Vini Mahajan appointed as Punjab's cause of Kashmiri separatism in the Kashmir first woman Chief Secretary conflict.

Indian writer wins regional award for Asia in Commonwealth Short Story Prize

Senior IAS officer Vini Mahajan took over as Punjab’s first woman chief secretary.

 She replaced Karan Avtar Singh who was due to retire in August.  The 1987 batch IAS officer’s appointment marked another first in Punjab’s administrative history as her husband Dinkar Kritika Pandey, a writer from Ranchi was announced Gupta is the state Director General of Police as the regional winner for Asia in the 2020 (DGP). Commonwealth Short Story Prize.  As of now, Punjab is the lone state in the country to have a couple heading both civil  The 29-year-old writer won for her story The and police administration. Great Indian Tee and Snakes, which is about  Prior to this appointment, she was serving as two young people trying to navigate the idea Additional Chief Secretary, Investment of love in an era of hatred and prejudice. Promotion, Industries and Commerce, IT and  The story about a Hindu girl falling in love Governance Reforms and Public Grievances. with a Muslim man had made it to the shortlist for the Asian region. Syed Ali Shah Geelani resigns from All Parties  Set up in 2012, the Commonwealth Short Hurriyat Conference Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from the In Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani has Commonwealth. announced his resignation from All Parties Hurriyat  The prize is given to five regional winners Conference (G). namely Asia, Pacific, Africa, Canada and Europe, and the Caribbean. Each winner receives £ 2,500 (about Rs 2.4 lakh) and an

overall winner from among them receives a  ‘Renji’, as he is popularly called, belongs to total of £ 5,000 (about Rs 4.72 lakh). the prominent Elankath family and is only the second Indian after R K Chetty Pandipati to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw named EY World win the coveted award. Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020  During his 30-year long association with the US space agency, Kumar had helped redesign the International Space Station(ISS), He was a member of the Class of 85 at the Central Engineering College Trivandrum and won a gold medal in mechanical engineering.

The Ramon Magsaysay awards cancelled

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, executive chairperson of Biocon Ltd, was named the EY World Entrepreneur of The Year at a virtual award ceremony.

 Mazumdar-Shaw was picked from among 46 award winners from 41 countries and territories vying for the world title.  In the 20-year history of the award, she became the third EY World Entrepreneur of The Ramon Magsaysay awards, regarded as Asia’s The Year Award winner from India, after version of the Nobel Prize, have been cancelled this Uday Kotak of Kotak Mahindra Bank (2014) year due to the global pandemic. and Narayana Murthy of Infosys Technologies Ltd (2005).  This is the only third time the annual awards were disrupted in six decades. Renjith Kumar honoured by NASA Distinguished  The awards were also cancelled due to a Service Medal financial crisis in 1970 and a disastrous earthquake that hit the Philippines in 1990.  The Ramon Magsaysay awards are named after Ramon Magsaysay, the third president of the Republic of the Philippines after World War II.

Australian honour for Indian musician

Shobha Sekhar, founder of Kalakruthi, a music organisation in Australia will be conferred the Medal of the Order of Australia later this year. Renjith Kumar, an aerospace entrepreneur, has been  Since 1994, Shobha Sekhar, a bestowed with NASA Distinguished Service Medal. management graduate, has let music enrich her own life and provide the

community with the much needed aesthetic touch.  Trained by several stalwarts, including DKP, D.K. Jayaraman and K.V. Narayanaswamy, Shobha started Kalakruthi in that year and has been training countless aspirants in Carnatic music.  She has presented several concerts in Australia and other parts of the world.  Kalakruthi is affiliated to The Music Academy, Chennai, and the students Hyderabad-based Deccan Development Society has receiving lessons in advanced levels won the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation from the faculty of the Academy’s music Award. school.  It is one of the most coveted environmental Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal awards in the world for the year 2020. gets 2020 World Food Prize  This is in recognition of “the individuals who dedicate their actions and organisations for their deep commitment to preserving our planet, in each of the Foundation’s three priority areas: limiting the effects of climate change, preserving biodiversity, managing water resources and fighting against desertification.  The award of 40,000 Euros (approximately Rs 35 lakhs) has been given to the society “in recognition of the work of DDS women to rehabilitate degraded lands and promote Eminent Indian-American soil scientist Rattan biodiversity”. Lal has been named this year's recipient of the World Food Prize. Golden Globe awards postponed to February 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic  He has developed a soil-centric approach to increasing food production that conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change.  Lal, a native of India and a citizen of the United States, will receive the 2.5 lakh dollar award that honours his contribution throughout his career spanning more than five decades and four continents to promote innovative soil-saving techniques.

Hyderabad’s Deccan Development Society wins Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Award

The annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony for film  Various services such as family register, and television has been postponed to February 2021. registration of birth, death and marriages are registered online in the panchayats.  The Golden Globes ceremony, which kicks off Hollywood’s awards season, will now Folk artist Gulabbai Sangamnerkar to get take place on 28th of February instead of its lifetime honour usual slot on the first Sunday in January.  The decision follows the postponement by two months of the Oscars to 25th of April because of Coronavirus pandemic.  The ceremony, hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, will take place on the originally scheduled date of the Oscars, which has been pushed back two months.  The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group behind the awards, will provide

details about eligibility, voting period and nominations timing in the weeks ahead. The Maharashtra government announced the Vithabai Narayangaonkar lifetime achievement Himachal bags e-Panchayat Puraskar 2020 award to folk artist Gulabbai Sangamnerkar.

 Also, the Annasaheb Kirloskar award will be conferred upon veteran theatre actress-singer Madhuvanti Dandekar.  The awards were announced by culture minister Amit Deshmukh.  The award carries the cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a citation and a memento.  Sangamnerkar has been performing since the age of nine.  Dandekar''s career in theatre spans more than five decades. She has performed in 25

Marathi stage musicals. The Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj department has won a first prize under the E-Panchayat Puraskars-2020 to be given by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

 The state has been selected for the award for effective implementation of the e-application Kiren Rijiju, Arjun Munda inaugurate Khelo developed by the Central government and India e-Pathshala programme other applications developed by the state government. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated Khelo India e-  All 3,226 panchayats in the state have been provided with internet facility, now with the Pathshala programme with a webinar, attended by help of it, people can access various services young archers, archery coaches and experts of the online. discipline from across the country.

 The e-pathshala aims to provide online coaching and education to athletes living in far-off areas.  The programme was launched by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), in association with National Sporting Federations (NSFs).  The unique programme will connect athletes from secluded areas of India, who may not always have access to established players and coaches.  The e-learning programme will cover 21 sporting disciplines, including, athletics, archery, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kayaking & Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned athlete canoeing, kabaddi, para games, rowing, Gomathi Marimuthu for 4-years after testing positive shooting, taekwondo, table tennis, volleyball, for banned substances. weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.  Her ban starts from 17th May 2019 to 16th India to host 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup May 2023.  All of Gomathi’s competition results between March 18 and May 17, 2019, stand annulled.  The Gold Medal she bagged in the 2019 Asian Championship that was held in Doha, Qatar with the timing of 2 minutes and 2.70 seconds has been stripped by the Athletics Integrity Unit(AIU) when the B sample of Gomathi returned positive.

Russian high jumper Shustov receives four-year doping ban

India has been awarded the hosting rights of the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup by the Asian Football Confederation.

 The tournament will be held in India for the second time since 1979.  As hosts, India will get an automatic qualification to the tournament.  The tournament has been expanded from the previous slots of eight teams to 12 teams.

Gomathi Marimuthu gets four-year doping ban Russian high jumper Alexander Shustov, the 2010 European champion, has received a four-year ban for anti-doping violations.

 Shustov, who retired from competition in The Sports Ministry is all set to establish Khelo India 2017, has been suspended until 2024 for "use State Centres of Excellence under the Khelo India or attempted use of a banned substance or Scheme. prohibited method".  Russia's athletics federation was suspended  One such centre will be identified in each in 2015 after a report commissioned by the State and Union Territory with an aim to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found create a robust sporting ecosystem in the evidence of mass doping in the sport. entire country.  In the first leg, the Ministry has identified Chef Angad Singh Rana won the QualityNZ state-owned sports facilities in eight states Culinary Cup 2020 including Karnataka, Odisha, Kerala, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland which will be upgraded into Khelo India State Centre of Excellence.  These centres are being established to strengthen India’s pursuit for excellence in Olympics.

4th Asian Youth Para Games to be held in Bahrain in December 2021

Chef Angad Singh Rana has won QualityNZ Culinary Cup 2020.

 The award was announced by Cricket legend and Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming.  Chef Angad Singh Rana grabbed the QualityNZ Culinary Cup 2020 alongside INR 50,000 worth of QualityNZ lamb and seafood and a Weber BBQ valued at over INR 46,000.

Sports Ministry all set to establish Khelo India The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) announced State Centres of Excellence that the fourth Asian Youth Para Games will take place in Bahrain from December 1-10, 2021.

 Around 800 athletes under 20 years of age are expected to compete in nine sports: athletics, badminton, boccia, goalball, para taekwondo, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair basketball.  The competition will take place across numerous venues in Khalifa Sports City, a multi-use stadium in Isa Town, and Isa Sports City.  The event is being organised in conjunction with the National Paralympic Committee

(NPC) of Bahrain with the support of the  The 51-year-old former India striker, who local government. scored 40 goals in 79 matches for India since making his debut in early 90s. Mamedyarov wins Sharjah Online Chess C’ship  He was awarded the Arjuna award in 2003.  He was also awarded the Indian 'Player of the Year' in 1993, 1997 and 1999.  Vijayan, who led Indian team from 2000 to 2004, used to form a formidable pair with fellow striker Bhaichung Bhutia.

New Zealand's Rachel Priest announces retirement from international cricket

Azerbaijan’s Shakhriyar Mamedyarov bagged top honours at the World Stars Sharjah Online International Chess Championship.

 Grandmaster Mamedyarov won the coveted title and pocketed $3000 with 7.5 points from 10 rounds Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna finished second with 6.5 points after losing his 10th and final round game to Radoslaw Wojtszek. New Zealand wicketkeeper-batswoman Rachel  Both Mamedyarov and Harikrishna had Priest has announced her retirement from chances to win the title as at the start of the international cricket. final round they were on 6.5 points each.  Luck eluded the Indian as he lost his 10th and  Priest was not included in the White Ferns' final round game to Poland’s Radoslaw list of centrally-contracted players announced Wojtszek. Harikrishan finished second with earlier this month. 6.5 points.  After her retirement, she has now signed up a  Mamedyarov, who remained the only contract with Cricket Tasmania to play in unbeaten player in the double round-robin Australia Women’s National Cricket League tournament, got the better off UAE and will represent Tasmanian Tigers for the Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman Mohamed 2020/21 season. Saleh to grab the victory. Liverpool Win Premier League title Former India football captain IM Vijayan recommended for Padma Shri Liverpool has won the English Premier League 2019-20 title. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has recommended former skipper IM Vijayan for Padma  This is the first time that Liverpool has won Shri. the English Premier League title.  Liverpool had beaten 18 of the 19 teams in the league heading into their match against West Ham.

 Liverpool can end up becoming the 1st team Australia and New Zealand will co-host the to win all home games in Premier League Women’s World Cup in 2023, with the following season edition possibly set to take place just two years later.

Sanjita Chanu to receive Arjuna award after IWF  The joint bid beat Colombia 22-13 in a vote drops doping charges by FIFA’s ruling council, which judged them as having the best commercial prospects for women’s soccer.  FIFA President Gianni Infantino was one of the members who voted for Australia and New Zealand to stage the first 32-team Women’s World Cup.  FIFA’s decision means South America is still waiting to host its first Women’s World Cup, a tournament that was first played in 1991.  The 2023 tournament will be the first time a World Cup for men or women will be shared across two countries from different FIFA confederations. Two-time Commonwealth Games gold medal  Both Australia, the No. 7-ranked team in winning weightlifter K. Sanjita Chanu, who was women’s soccer, and No. 23 New Zealand recently exonerated from doping charges, will get the will qualify automatically for the tournament. Arjuna award for 2018. FIFA approves $1.5 bn COVID-19 relief fund for  She fought a long battle for over two-and-a- world football half years before seeing her name being cleared of doping charges by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) earlier this month.  Sanjita had moved the Delhi High Court after being ignored for the Arjuna Award in 2017.  Following Sanjita’s exoneration of the doping charges, the IWLF reminded the Sports Ministry about the court order.

Australia, New Zealand to co-host FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup

FIFA''s ruling council has unanimously approved the COVID-19 Relief Plan giving a total of $1.5 billion to help the global football community weather the coronavirus pandemic.

 FIFA said that each of the 211 member associations will get a one million dollars payment, part of which will be granted in July this year.

 To ensure a healthy restart for women''s undergone a kidney transplant a few months football, a lump-sum of 500,000 dollars will ago. be paid to support the specific community.  Wajid Khan, of the famous Sajid-Wajid  The member associations would be able to music composer duo, composed most of the apply for interest-free loans amounting to up songs of actor Salman Khan's movies. to 35 per cent of their audited annual revenues. Former Olympic sprint champion Bobby Morrow dies aged 84 Dravid beats Tendulkar in Wisden India's poll

Indian batting great Rahul Dravid narrowly beat his American sprinter Bobby Morrow, who won three former teammate Sachin Tendulkar in Wisden India's gold medals at the 1956 Olympic Games in poll for the greatest Indian Test batsman of all time. Melbourne, died.

 The poll was taken on Facebook and Dravid  Morrow won gold in the 100 and 200 metres got 52 percent of the 11,400 votes that came and anchored the US to victory in the 4x100m in from fans. relay, in which they set a world record.  It started with a pool of 16 Indian batsmen  He is one of the four men to win these three and came down to a final four of Dravid events at a single Games, alongside Jesse against Sunil Gavaskar and Tendulkar Owens, Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt. against Virat Kohli.  He was named Sports Illustrated's  Gavaskar managed to later beat Kohli in a "Sportsman of the Year" in 1956 and set 11 closely contested third place play-off. ratified world records during his career.

BJP Tamil Nadu former president KN Lakshmanan passes away

Music composer Wajid Khan of Sajid-Wajid fame dies due to COVID-19

Music composer, director and singer Wajid Khan died due to COVID-19.

 The 42 year old music composer was also suffering from kidney ailments and had

Former two-time Tamil Nadu State BJP president K games, averaging 10.8 points, 14.0 rebounds N Lakshmanan died. and 3.9 assists over his career.  He was inducted into 'The Naismith  Born in Salem on October 20, 1930, he Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame' as a completed schooling at the Gokulnatha player in 1988 and was voted as a 'top 50 Hindu Mahajana school and did his BA at player in league history' in 1996. what was then the Salem Municipal College.  In 1944, he joined the RSS and in 1957 Lyricist Anwar Sagar passes away started the Jana Sangh in Salem district along with nine others.  In 1969, he and senior RSS leader Vasudevan started the Vidya Mandir school at Shevapet in Salem city. From 1970 to 1974, he started branches of the school in 24 towns across the State.  When the Jana Sangh became the BJP, Lakshmanan was appointed the party’s State president and held the post from 1984-89.  He also held the post from 1996 to 2000. In 2001, he was elected to the State Assembly from the Mylapore constituency in Chennai.

NBA legend Wes Unseld who played for Veteran lyricist Anwar Sagar passed away. Washington Wizards dies  Anwar wrote many popular songs in the 80s and 90s.  He wrote the lyrics of the song “Waada Raha Sanam” for the 1992 film Khiladi, starring Akshay Kumar and Ayesha Jhulka.  The lyricist also has to his credit films like Yaarana, Salaami, Aa Gale Lag Jaa and Vijaypath among more.  Anwar Sagar also worked with music directors like Nadeem-Shravan, Rajesh Roshan, Jatin-Lalit and Anu Malik.

NBA legend Wes Unseld, who played for the British Producer and songwriter Rupert Hine Washington Wizards died following lengthy health passes away issues.

 Unseld who led Washington Wizards (the then Baltimore Bullets) in 1978 to its only NBA championship is considered as one of the greatest players in league’s history.  A five-time All-Star selection, Unseld spent his entire 13-year career with the same team and appeared in a franchise-record 984

British Producer and songwriter Rupert Hine who worked with artists including Tina Turner, Howard Jones, passed away.

 He began his career as a musician in folk band Rupert & David and also worked with other bands such as Quantum Jump and Spin 1ne 2wo.  Rupert Hine was a dominant producer in the 1980s and 1990s.  His renowned works that appeared on soundtracks for the films Better Off Dead, Golden Eye, The Fifth Element, etc. Former Delhi Police commissioner Ved Marwah  He also produced the Grammy-winning died in Goa. He was 87. single Better Be Good to Me.  Marwah was the police commissioner of Former India footballer Hamza Koya died of Delhi from 1985-88 and served as the third COVID-19 in Kerala director general of the elite National Security Guard from 1988-90.  He was a former governor of Manipur, Jharkhand and Mizoram.  He was an outstanding civil servant and an able administrator.

Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja passes away

Former Indian footballer Hamza Koya has died of COVID-19 in Kerala.

 He was a former football player who had represented Maharashtra at the Santosh Trophy and also an India team member in Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja passed away. Nehru trophy.   The deceased is a native of Parapanagadi, He had made his debut with the movie who had returned from Mumbai recently and ‘Vayuputra. passed away in Manjeri Medical College in  He has featured in films such as Samhaara, Malappuram. Aadyaa, Khaki, Sinnga, Amma I Love You, Prema Baraha, Dandam Dashagunam and Former Delhi Police commissioner Ved Marwah Varadhanayaka among others. dies  He was last seen in the Kannada action- drama Shivarjun.

Former US gymnast Thomas passes away

 Active in social and political spheres since his youth, soft-spoken Sethi was also elected to the Odisha Assembly twice.  During his long stint as an MP and an MLA, the late Arjun Sethi had earned the goodwill of the people for his dedicated service and commitment.

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza dies of 'cardiac arrest' at 55

The first U.S. male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, Kurt Thomas passed away.

He won the gold medal at the world championships in 1978.

 Thomas won a record six gold medals at the 1979 world championships.  His record has since been tied by Simone Biles, who accomplished the feat at the 2018 world championships.  Prior to competing professionally, Thomas was a five-time NCAA champion at Indiana State University. Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has died after suffering a cardiac arrest. Former union minister Arjun Charan Sethi dies  After 15 years in power, Mr Nkurunziza was due to step down in August.  In 2015, the announcement that he would run for a third term plunged the country into chaos.  He was also due to receive a $540,000 (£440,000) retirement pay-out and a luxury villa.

Manchester United great and former European Cup winner Tony Dunne passes away at 78 Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi died in a hospital following a brief illness. Manchester United’s European Cup- winning defender Tony Dunne has died  An eight-time MP from Bhadrak Lok Sabha aged 78. constituency, Sethi was the Union Water ● Dunne, who joined United from Irish Resources Minister in the Atal Bihari club Shelbourne in 1960, made 535 Vajpayee-led NDA government from 2000 to appearances for Matt Busby’s side and 2004. played an integral role in their European

Cup triumph in 1968. ● Tony Dunner also won two league titles and an FA Cup during his 13-year stint with Manchester United. ● Dunne, capped 33 times by the Republic of Ireland, joined Bolton Wanderers in 1973 on a free transfer and made over 170 appearances before ending his career with American club Detroit Express in 1979.

Former Planning Commission Member Vaidyanathan passes away

Veteran Urdu poet Anand Mohan Zutshi "Gulzar" Dehlvi passed away five days after he recovered from Covid-19.

 A freedom fighter and a premier 'inquilabi' poet, Dehlvi was admitted to a private hospital on June 1 after testing positive for coronavirus.  Born in old Delhi's Gali Kashmeerian in 1926, he was also the editor of 'Science ki Duniya', the first Urdu science magazine published by Government of India in 1975.

Former Head of Publications Division, Surinder Former Member of the Planning Kaur passes away Commission Dr A Vaidyanathan died in Coimbatore. ● Vaidyanathan was a professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. ● He had chaired the Government of India Task Force on Revival of Cooperative Credit Institutions (2004) and was a member of the K N Raj Committee on Taxation of Agricultural Income (1969-70). ● From 1962 to 1972, Dr Vaidyanathan was a member of the perspective planning Mrs. Surinder Kaur, former Head of Publications division of the Planning Commission. Division and Directorate of Advertising & Visual publicity passed away after a brief illness. Urdu poet 'Gulzar' Dehlvi dies days after recovering from Covid-19  A senior Indian Information Service Officer of 1968 batch, and wife of former CBI Director late Joginder Singh, she held

several important positions in All India Former New Zealand Test cricketer Matt Poore, who Radio News and Press Information Bureau. is remembered for catching a stray dog during a  Mrs. Kaur also served as a Director in the match in Bangalore in 1955, has died at the age of Ministry of Home Affairs. 90.

Senior journalist, freedom fighter Dinu Randive  He was featured in 14 Tests for New Zealand, passes away scoring 355 runs and picking up nine wickets between 1953-1956.  He also played 61 Tests for Canterbury and scored 2,336 runs and ended up with 68 wickets.

Former Lok Sabha MP, banker Madhavrao Patil dies in Nashik

Senior journalist and freedom fighter from Maharashtra, Dinu Randive passed away.

 Mr. Randive played a key role in the struggle movement to carve out Maharashtra state called Samyukta Maharashtra movement.  The veteran journalist was born in 1925 at a tribal hamlet at Dahanu near Mumbai, he Former Lok Sabha MP and founder of Janalaxmi started his journalistic career in 1956. Cooperative Bank Madhavrao Patil died after a brief  Early this year, he was conferred with the illness. lifetime achievement award by the Mantralaya and Vidhimandal Vartahar  He was a staunch supporter of Sharad Pawar Sangh, an association of journalists covering and was among the first to join when the latter Maharashtra legislature and secretariat. formed the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999. Former New Zealand cricketer Matt Poore dies  Patil had won from Nashik Lok Sabha constituency on a Congress ticket in 1998.

Noted Uttarakhand folk singer Heera Singh Rana passes away in Delhi

Noted folk singer of Uttarakhand Heera Singh Rana died at the age of 78.

 Heera Singh Rana was born in 1942 in Manila Dandholi village of Almora.

 He began singing in various forums since the age of 15. Recently he was appointed vice- chairman of Garhwal, Kumaoni and Jaunsari Academy by the government of Delhi.  His song ‘Tyar pahad-myar pahad hoi dukhon ko dyar pahad’ depicted the migration problem of the hills.

Maha Vir Chakra awardee and 1971 war hero, Lt Gen Raj Mohan Vohra dies of COVID-19

Former Goa minister Achyut Kashinath Sinai Usgaonkar passed away following age-related ailments.

 Usgaonkar was a leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Lt Gen (retd) Raj Mohan Vohra, who was a 1971 war the oldest regional outfit in Goa. hero and a Maha Vir Chakra awardee, has died due  He served as a cabinet minister from August to COVID-19. 13, 1977 to April 27, 1979 in the then Shashikala Kakodkar government of Goa, Daman and Diu.  Then a lieutenant colonel, Vohra commanded  Before serving as a minister, Achyut the elite Hodson's Horse in the Shakargarh Usgaonkar was the deputy speaker of Goa Sector during the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and during the Dayanand Bandodkar-led was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his government. conspicuous bravery and leadership.  Bandodkar was the first chief minister of the  During the Battle of Basantar, the regiment coastal state. came under heavy fire from the enemy and faced huge resistance, but 27 enemy tanks were destroyed under his able command. Malayalam filmmaker Sachidanandan passes away  The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the country's second highest gallantry award.  It is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of enemy whether on land, at sea or in the air.  Vohra had received the coveted award in 1972.

Former Goa minister Achyut Usgaonkar passes away

Malayalam writer-director KR Sachidanandan, Social worker Vidyaben Shah passes away popularly known in the industry as Sachy, passed away.

 Sachy was on ventilator support prior to his death for almost two days.  He suffered a cardiac arrest and hypoxic brain damage, wherein the brain does not get enough oxygen.  Sachy debuted in the film industry as a writer, collaborating with fellow writer and screenwriter Sethunath.  The duo, known as Sachy-Sethu, went on to write hits such as Chocolate, Makeup Man, Robin Hood, and Seniors.  Sachy started off as a writer in the Malayalam Social worker Vidyaben Shah passed away at her film industry, and then moved on to direction, residence. debuting as a director in 2015 with the Prithviraj-starrer Anarkali.  She was 98. As a university student, she participated in the Quit India Movement. Veteran economist & FC member B.P.R. Vithal  Shah had established India's first ever Bal passes away Bhavan in Rajkot in the 1940s, which was to become a harbinger of the entire Bal Bhavan Movement in India.  She was president of the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW).  She was the first non-official to become president of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in the 1970s.  She played a leading role in the establishment of one of Delhi's most renowned schools, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya and of the Triveni Kala Sangam, a premier institution for imparting training in dance, music and Veteran economist and the member of 10th Finance painting. Commission, B.P.R. Vithal passes away.  She was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1992 and Government of India's National  He was a former IAS officer of the 1950 Award for outstanding services in the field of batch. He also served as the Secretary, Child Welfare in 1986. Finance and Planning, government of Andhra Pradesh, from 1972 to 1982. Ranji Trophy's Highest Wicket Taker Rajinder  B.P.R. Vithal also worked at the International Goel Passes Away Aged 77 Monetary Fund as the fiscal adviser to the governments of Malawi and Sudan. Former left-arm spin legend Rajinder Goel, whose  He also played an instrumental role in the record Ranji Trophy wicket haul of 637 scalps still establishment of Centre for Economic and stands, passed away. Social Studies, Hyderabad.

 Goel, who played for Haryana, Punjab and Delhi, was a towering presence in domestic cricket during a 25-year first-class career that began in the 1958-59 Ranji season and extended until 1984-85, when he was 42.  Goel finished with 750 first-class wickets.  Goel and contemporary left-arm spinner, Padmakar Shivalkar of Mumbai, dominated batsmen in the domestic circuit for three decades.

 Goel and Shivalkar were two of the finest spinners produced by India never to play for Film producer & philanthropist, Steve Bing passed the country. away.

Maj Gen Lachhman Singh Lehl, renowned  He produced films such as Get Carter and veteran of 1948, 1971 wars, dies Every Breath, and also wrote the screenplay for movie Kangaroo Jack.  Steve Bing financed the 2004 film ‘The Polar Express‘ to the tune of a reported $100 million, which was nearly half of the production cost.  He also produced Martin Scorsese’s documentary “Shine A Light” in 2008, which was about legendary rock band The Rolling Stones.

Veteran journalist, former MP Vishwa Mohan Gupta passes away Major General (Retd) Lachhman Singh Lehl, who commanded the 20 Mountain Division of the Army that exhibited massive courage and valour during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, has died aged 97 in Delhi.

 Major General (Retd) Lehl had assumed command of the 20 Mountain Division on November 13, 1970.  The famous battles of "Hilli" and "Bogra" were fought in 1971 operations, which were decisive battles in the Eastern Theatre," the official said.  The Instrument of Surrender taken by the officer against Pakistan's 16 Infantry Former MP and veteran journalist Vishwa Bandhu Division speaks of the valour of the 20 Gupta died. Mountain Division on the eastern front under his command.  Gupta was associated with the Congress party during the 1980s and he was a Member of Film producer Steve Bing passes away Parliament from April 1984 to 1990,

representing the state of Delhi in the Rajya  Fondly referred to as ‘Pappachi’, Raghunath Sabha. was one of the founding members of the still-  Gupta was Chairman and Editor-in-chief of popular Beagles Basketball Club. the Tej-Bandhu group of publications.  Raghunath’s tryst with basketball began in  He was one of the founding members of the 1958, and before long he was winning Press Club of India and the President of the accolades for the Malleswaram High School All India Newspaper Editors Conference. and subsequently National College and Government Science College (B.Sc). Former India shooter Pournima Zanane passes  The shooter, who was diagnosed with cancer away after two-year battle with cancer during the Nationals in Kerala two years ago, started her career in Mumbai before shifting base to Pune.

'Batman' director Joel Schumacher passes away

Former India shooter Pournima Zanane has passed away aged 42.

 An International Shooting Sport Federation- Costume designer-turned director Joel Schumacher, licenced coach, Zanane had been suffering known for helming films including 'St Elmo's Fire', from cancer for the past two years and also 'Falling Down' as well as two 'Batman' movies, has underwent extensive treatment for the same. passed away.  She has represented India at multiple ISSF World Cups, Asian Championships,  Schumacher started off as a costume designer Commonwealth Championships, among for 1970s films. others.  Joel Schumacher’s first movie was Batman  Zanane, who was a national record holder in Forever which starred Val Kilmer, Tommy 10m air rifle event, took to coaching and was Lee Jones, Jim Carrey and Nicole Kidman. honoured with the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports  He also directed the movie titled “The award by the Maharashtra government. Phantom of the Opera” which received three Oscar nominations. Former Karnataka basketball player K Raghunath passes away Trinamool MLA Tamonash Ghosh dies of COVID-19 Former Karnataka basketball star K Raghunath passed away. Trinamool Congress MLA, Tamonash Ghosh passed away due to COVID-19.

 He represented Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.  He was three-time MLA from Falta & party treasurer since 1998.  Ghosh is the first elected public representative in the State to succumb to the contagious viral infection.

Veteran Kannada novelist Geetha Nagabhushan passes away

The author of The Immortals of Meluha Amish Tripathi, has announced the launch of his new book, Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India.

 Published by Westland Publications Pvt Ltd, his latest fiction is set in 11th-century, India.  The book begins with Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasion and the massacre of the holy Somnath Temple.  It then proceeds to document the adventure of the warrior-king Suheldev and the way he brings together people from various faiths.

Veteran novelist Geetha Nagabhushanpassed away. June English Monthly Quiz

 She was suffering from age-related ailments Q. World Milk Day is observed every year on since recent years.  She started her career as lecturer at ______. Nagareshwar College in Kalaburagi and had retired as principal. 29 May  She had chaired the 76th Akhil Bharat Kannada Sahitya Sammelan held in Gadag in 30 May 2010.  She was the first woman writer to get Nadoja 31 May award of Kannada University Hampi, and first Kannada woman writer to be honored 01 June Sahitya Akademi award for her novel 'Baduku' in 2004. 02 June

Q. Which of the following companies became the first private company to put a human into space orbit? Amish announces his new book, Legend of Astra Suheldev: The King Who Saved India Virgin Galactic

SpaceX 2024

AirLaunch 2025

OneSpace 2026 i-Space Q. Which of the following became the first state to prepare one lakh beds for COVID-19 patients? Q. Who among the following launched “Artificial Intelligence Portal” of India called “ai.gov.in”? Maharashtra

Ram Vilas Paswan Uttar Pradesh

Ravi Shankar Prasad Rajasthan

Prakash Javadekar Madhya Pradesh

Jagat Prakash Nadda None of these

None of these Q. Recently, the Government has banned ‘WeTransfer’ website citing security reasons. We Q. In his recent episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Transfer is a/an ______. Minister Modi announced a video blogging contest named as ______. File Sharing website

Yoga: Part of My Life Money transfer website

My Life My Yoga Social Networking website

Yoga, Road to healthy life Micro blogging website

Aarogyam None of these

None of these Q. Who among the following has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Food Safety and Q. Jal Jeevan Mission announced by the Prime Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)? Minister Narendra Modi r aims to provide tap water connections to 18 Crore rural households of the Maneesh Pal country by the year______. Arun Singhal 2022 Komal Tyagi 2023 Sachin Jaiswal

None of these Q. Which of the following has developed ‘Ultra Swachh’ for disinfection of PPEs, electronic items, Q. Recently, Wajid Khan passed away. He was a/an fabrics? ______. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Journalist Defence Research and Development Organization Music composer Indian Space Research Organisation Doctor Ordnance Factory Board Politician None of these None of these Q. Recently, Government has set a target to provide Q. Recently, Nikol Pashinyan had tested positive for Kisan Credit Cards to ______dairy farmers the novel coronavirus. He is the Prime Minister of ______. 1.0 crore

Armenia 1.5 crore

Ukraine 2.0 crore

Belarus 2.5 crore

Croatia 5 crore

Montenegro Q. Recently, the centre has approved 175 crore rupees for implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Q. Which of the following has launched ‘C-TAP’ ______. (COVID-19 Technology Access Pool) for equitable access to life-saving tech? Himachal Pradesh

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA Odisha

World Health Organization Meghalaya

Ministry of Health, Brazil Chhattisgarh

Indian Council of Medical Research Telangana

None of these Q. PM SVANIDHI scheme is related to ______.

Aquaculture

Dairy Farming Himachal Pradesh

Street Vendors Bihar

Cotton cultivators Q. Which of the following agency has downgraded the Government of India's foreign-currency and None of these local-currency long-term issuer ratings to Baa3 from Q. PM Modi greets people on Telangana State Baa2? Formation Day. Telangana was formed in the year Goldman Sachs ______. Moody’s 2012 Fitch Ratings 2013 S&P Global 2014 Bloomberg 2015 Q. World Bicycle Day is observed every year on 2016 ______. Q. Which of the following Indian states are expected 31 May to be effected from cyclonic storm Nisarga? 01 June Kerala 02 June Kerala and Karnataka 03 June Odisha and west Bengal 04 June Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Q. Which of the following parts of the world is Maharashtra and Gujarat affected by tropical storm Amanda? Q. Which of the following state governments has Eastern Africa launched an online portal ‘Skill Register’ to create a database of migrants? Central America

Uttarakhand Northern Europe

Assam Northern America

Meghalaya None of these

Q. In 2016, At a cost of around ₹58,000 crore, India Q. Which of the following state has planned to placed an order of ______Rafel fighter jets from provide tap connections for all households by March France. 2023?

20 Uttarakhand

22 Assam

31 Himachal Pradesh

36 Arunachal Pradesh

39 Haryana

Q. Recently, Energy trading platform Indian Energy Q. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the Exchange has launched the real-time electricity Silver Jubilee celebrations of Rajiv Gandhi market (RTM) on its platform. This will allow University of Health Sciences. Rajiv Gandhi ______auction sessions during the day. University of Health Sciences is in ______.

12 Pune

20 New Delhi

24 Bengaluru

26 Panipat

48 Indore

Q. Which of the following states/UT has launched an Q. Who among the following has been appointed as app to help track hospital beds, ventilators for India''s next High Commissioner to the United COVID-19 patients? Kingdom?

Goa Sameer Pathak

Assam Amitabh Chaudhary

Madhya Pradesh Gaitri Kumar

Delhi Ranjan Tripathi

Rajasthan None of these

Q. Bimal Julka is currently in the news. He is the BHARAT ______of India. SWADES Chief Information Commissioner SWAYAM Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries SAUBHAGYA Commission None of these Director General of Airports Authority of India Q. Which of the following state has recently invited Chairman of University Grants Commission chip manufacturing company 'Intel' to set up its unit None of these in the state?

Q. Who among the following has replaced Manoj Maharashtra Tiwari as Delhi BJP chief? Uttar Pradesh Arvind Singh Karnataka Adesh Kumar Gupta Tamil Nadu B.S. Bhullar Kerala Sanjeev Ranjan Q. CM Didi Kitchen emerged as a lifeline for all None of these needy women during COVID-19 lockdown.CM Didi Kitchen was launched by ______. Q. International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed every year on ______. Telangana

1 June Rajasthan

2 June Bihar

3 June Jharkhand

4 June None of these

5 June Q. Which of the following state government has started implementation of Rs. 300-crore Rural Q. Government has launched ______initiative Rejuvenation Scheme ? to conduct skill mapping of citizens returning under Vande Bharat Mission Kerala

Jharkhand Billie Piper

Assam None of these

Manipur Q. Who among the following has been appointed as the Chairman & Managing Director of National Tamil Nadu Fertilizers Limited? Q. Who among the following has been appointed as Ashok Pandey Twitter’s new chairman of the board? Manish Rawat David Wehner V N Datt Patrick Pichette Sam Gill Sheryl Sandberg Mahendra Joshi Eduardo Saverin Q. Recently, Sushil Singhal has been appointed as Mike Schroepfer India’s next High Commissioner to ______. Q. Who among the following has assumed office as Timor-Leste the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2020-21? Papua New Guinea

Shiv Nadar Lesotho

Uday Kotak Laos

Anand Mahindra Liberia

Kumar Mangalam Birla Q. World Environment Day is observed every year on ______. Aditya Puri 1 June Q. Who among the following has been appointed as the youngest chairperson of British Academy of 2 June Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)? 3 June Krishnendu Majumdar 4 June Archie Panjabi 5 June Christopher Eccleston

Q. The World Economic Forum will host a Unique Jharkhand Twin Summit in ______. Chhattisgarh October, 2020 Madhya Pradesh November, 2020 Uttar Pradesh January, 2021 Q. Which of the following bank has recently March, 2021 launched a mobile based current account opening facility? June, 2021 ICICI Bank Q. Which of the following country hosted the Global Vaccine Summit 2020? Axis Bank

France IndusInd Bank

USA State Bank of India

Japan None of these

UK Q. Recently, Raveesh Kumar has been appointed as India's next ambassador to ______. Italy Germany Q. Which of the following states/UT launched the ''MeraVetan'' app for government employees? Nepal

Jammu and Kashmir Finland

New Delhi France

Assam None of these

Punjab Q. Who among the following has been appointed as India’s new ambassador to the World Trade Haryana Organization (WTO)? Q. Recently, Which of the following state Brajendra Navnit government has launched ‘Spandan Campaign’ to check suicide and fratricide? Ajay Shrinivas

Telangana Manoj Desai

Pankaj Chaturvedi 3

None of these 5

Q. Who among the following Indian has won the 6 2020 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Asia? 7 Akansha Deshwal 9 Ambika Negi Q. The finance ministry announced that it will not Jyoti Anand launch any new schemes till______.

Kritika Pandey 31 October 2020

None of these 31 December 2020

Q. Recently, Anwar Sagar passed away. He was a 31 March 2021 famous ______. 31 June 2021 Painter None of these Football player Q. Who among the following has recently launched Cricketer an awareness campaign on Prevention of Human, Animal Mortality on Highways? Lyricist Rajnath Singh Journalist Prakash Javadekar Q. Russian Language Day is observed every year on ______. Nitin Gadkari

3 June Amit Shah

4 June None of these

5 June Q. Who among the following has recently launched ‘#iCommit’ campaign on the occasion of World 6 June Environment Day? 7 June Mahendra Nath Pandey Q. The United Nations has how many languages as R. K. Singh its official languages?

Narendra Singh Tomar ICICI Bank

Thawar Chand Gehlot Q. Recently K.P. Singh has announced his retirement. He was serving as Chairman of ______. None of these Delhi Land & Finance Limited (DLF) Q. Recently, India has launched Nagar Van project to create urban forest in how many cities? Kirloskar Brothers Limited

100 Ashok Leyland

200 Eicher Motors

400 Hero MotoCorp

500 Q. Which of the following countries will host the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup? 700 China Q. Recently, Scientists from The Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) developed a low- Bangladesh cost catalyst for hydrogen generation from water India using ______as a catalyst. Pakistan Molybdenum dioxide Sri Lanka Manganese dioxide Q. World Food Safety Day is observed every year on Mercury oxide ______.

Chromium oxide 04 June

Chromium trioxide 05 June

Q. Which of the following banks has recently 06 June launched a “Summer Treats” campaign? 07 June Axis Bank 08 June State Bank of India Q. Who among the following has formally become the HDFC Bank US presidential nominee from democratic party?

Canara Bank Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren Q. Who among the following is the head of the government’s task force which is established to examine Joe Biden maternal mortality rate, women’s health? Donald Trump Jaya Jaitley Nancy Pelosi Michael Fernandes Q. Recently, the G20 countries pledged around Laila Tyabji ______to fund fight COVID-19 pandemic. Devaki Jain $6 billion None of these $14 billion Q. Who among the following has topped the annual $21 billion Forbes list of the highest paid celebrities? $33 billion Cristiano Ronaldo $46 billion Lionel Messi Q. Which of the following states has launched an Online Tyler Perry Labour Employment Exchange? Neymar Haryana Kylie Jenner Telangana Q. Recently, Rahul Shrivastava has been appointed as Rajasthan next Ambassador of India to ______. Punjab Romania Karnataka Finland Q. The National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) has Oman recently developed indigenous nasopharyngeal swab for collecting samples. NCL is based in ______. Denmark

Hyderabad None of these

Pune Q. Recently, Rupert Hine passed away. He was a famous ______. Chennai Film producer New Delhi Football player Gandhinagar

Scientist India

Doctor USA

None of these France

Q. Recently, Hamza Koya passed away. He was Canada associated with which of the following sports? Japan Cricket Q. Mohamed Arkab is the current president of the Hockey Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Football (OPEC). He is the Oil Minister of ______.

Badminton Oman None of these Algeria Q. Recently, Ved Marwah passed away. He served as the UAE Police commissioner of ______. Russia Chennai None of these Hyderabad Q. Which of the following organisation has recently Delhi partnered with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to Agra promote innovation in India? None of these Indian Space Research Organisation Q. World Oceans Day is observed every year on Council of Scientific & Industrial Research ______. Defence Research and Development Organisation 6 June Union Public Service Commission 9 June None of these 8 June Q. Recently, the National Bank for Agriculture and 7 June Rural Development (NABARD) has provided Rs 5 June 270 crore to which of the following bank?

Q. Which of the following countries had proposed Assam Gramin Vikash Bank the concept of World Ocean Day?

Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank Ajeet Mohan

Kerala Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank M Nethra

Uttar Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank Jyoti Kumari

Jharkhand Grameena Vikas Bank None of these

Q. Aryabhatta Research Institute (ARIES) have Q. Recently, Chiranjeevi Sarja passed away. He signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was a famous ______. with ______for the cooperation in the field of Actor Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Astrophysics? Journalist

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Lyricist

Indian Space Research Organisation Footballer

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research None of these

Defence Research and Development Organisation Q. Recently, Kurt Thomas passed away. He was a famous ______. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune Cricketer

Q. Which of the following institute have developed Gymnast a low cost and Artificial Intelligence-based test kit Boxer for COVID-19? Architech Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad None of these Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi Q. Which of the following countries is currently Indian Institute of Technology-Madras affected by tropical storm Cristobal?

Indian Institute of Technology-Mumbai USA

None of these Australia

Q. Who among the following has been declared as South Africa ‘Goodwill Ambassador for the Poor’ by UNADAP? Indonesia Karthyayani Amma

None of these Rs 1,30,500

Q. Recently, India has signed an MoU for developing Q. Recently, Indian Air Force has designs, develops cooperation in the power sector with which of the & manufactures pod named as ______that will be following countries? utilised for evacuation of critical patients

France AJAY

Denmark BHARAT

Russia SAAVDHAN

Australia ARPIT

Bhutan None of these

Q. Government has mandated a ______colour strip Q. Which of the following state has permitted the on top of sticker carrying details of registration for Border Roads Organization (BRO) to employ more diesel BS-VI vehicles? than 11,800 workers from the state for critical national projects? Yellow Maharashtra Blue Bihar Orange Uttar Pradesh Black Jharkhand None of these Telangana Q. Recently, the Centre has allocated the highest ever funds of ______crore under Mahatma Gandhi Q. Which of the following state has launched an National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme online waste exchange website “APEMC”? during 2020-2021. Maharashtra Rs 1,01,500 Assam Rs 84,500 Andhra Pradesh Rs 90,500 Telangana Rs 1,20,500 None of these

Q. Which of the following state/UT governments has 8 June recently launched a Plant Health Clinic? 9 June Odisha 10 June Uttarakhand 11 June Himachal Pradesh Q. Students from which of the following university Manipur startups developed ‘Flyzy’ mobile application for contactless travel? Jammu and Kashmir IIT-Hyderabad Q. Which of the following companies has recently signed the UN Global Compact Initiative to reduce IIT-Ropar emissions? IIT-Kanpur Tech Mahindra IIT-Guwahati Wipro IIT-Delhi Tata Consultancy Services Q. Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune Accenture has developed a Nano-technology based disinfectant spray to combat COVID-19 named as ______. None of these SWATCH Q. According to the World Bank’s report, Indian economy is expected to contract at ______. AAROGYA

2.5% ANANYA

5.5% HEALTH

1.9% SANKALP

3.2% Q. Who among the following has been honoured by NASA Distinguished Service Medal? 4.6% Renjith Kumar Q. World Accreditation Day is observed every year on ______. Mohan Prajapati

7 June Maneesh Yadav

Shakti Das Shashank Kumar

None of these None of these

Q. Which of the following state started Q. Recently, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has “Mukhyamantri Shahri Path Vyavsayi Utthan bought 1.16% share in ______. Yojana” ? Flipkart Rajasthan OYO Rooms Telangana Ola Cabs Madhya Pradesh Jio Platforms Sikkim Zomato None of these Q. The Ramon Magsaysay awards have been Q. Recently, the World Bank has lent 1,950 crore cancelled this year due to the global pandemic.The loans to which of the following states for tackling Ramon Magsaysay awards are named after Ramon COVID situation? Magsaysay who served as the president of ______.

Maharashtra Laos

West Bengal Vietnam

Uttar Pradesh Cambodia

Assam Philippines

Telangana Malaysia

Q. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Q. Recently, Gomathi Marimuthu gets four-year (CBIC) has launched its flagship programme 'Turant doping ban. She is associated with ______. Customs' at Bengaluru & Chennai. Who among the Hockey following is the current Chairperson of CBIC? Swimming M Ajit Kumar Athletics S S Deswal Weightlifting Arvind Kumar Boxing

Q. According to the World Bank, the global Q. According to Fitch Ratings, Indian economy is economy will shrink by ______this year. expected to grow at ______in next fiscal.

1.2% 4.2%

2.4% 6.1%

3.1% 8.6%

4.8% 9.5%

5.2% 10.1%

Q. Recently, the central government has allocated Q. According to a recent survey, the number of ______as annual allotment to states for the Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region has increased by current financial year under the ‘Per Drop More ______. Crop’. 18% Rs 1,000 crore 21% Rs 4,000 crore 29% Rs 8,000 crore 31% Rs 13,000 crore 32% Rs 16,000 crore Q. Recently, a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle Q. What is the name given to an anti-espionage Complex has been inaugurated at ______. operation that was started by the Military Chennai Intelligence in 2019? Mumbai Operation Lakshay Goa Operation Desert Chase Visakhapatnam Operation Seema Paar Kolkata Operation Lifeline Q. Recently, Customs duty hiked on bamboo imports None of these has been increased from 10% to ______.

15%

20% Lesotho

25% Botswana

30% None of these

35% Q. International Albinism Awareness Day is observed every year on ______. Q. Recently, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has partnered with ______to 10 June provide its training partners access to digital skilling 11 June tools. 12 June HCL Technologies 13 June TCS iON 14 June Wipro Q. Which of the following railways zones has Infosys launched Robotic ‘CAPTAIN ARJUN’ to intensify None of these screening, surveillance?

Q. Recently, Alexander Shustov has received a four- Central Railway year ban for anti-doping violations. He was Northern Railway associated with which of the following sports? Northern Eastern Railway Football Western Railway Cricket North Western Railway High Jump Q. Which of the following organisations became the Golf first construction sector organisation to go ‘Fully Snooker Digital’?

Q. Recently, Pierre Nkurunziza passed away. He Indian Railways Construction Limited served as the president of ______. National Buildings Construction Corporation Malawi Rail India Transportation and Engineering Services Burundi Engineers India Limited

National Highway Authority of India Telangana

Q. Who among the following assumed the charge as Q. Which of the following state government gave Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, 'corona warriors' status to Divyang Anganwadi Visakhapatnam? workers?

Biswajit Dasgupta Madhya Pradesh

G. Ashok Kumar Rajasthan

Ajendra Bahadur Singh Punjab

Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar Haryana

None of these Telangana

Q. Recently, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Q. Which of the following city police has launched Singh Tomar launched an Internship programme 'STREE' initiative to support, empower women named as ______to provide paid internship to undergoing domestic violence? youth and ensure availability of assured project Pune loans to young cooperators. Hyderabad Market Sahayak Chandigarh Sahakar Mitra Delhi Bazar Mitra Chennai Sugam Q. Under 'Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana' launched by None of these Uttar Pradesh government will provide Rs Q. Which of the following state’s chief minister has ______to sons of labours every month to support launched mobile App ‘Ghar Ghar Nigrani’ to their families? undertake house to house surveillance in the state? 500 Punjab 1,000 Rajasthan 1,500 Maharashtra 2,000 Assam

2,500 Indonesia

Q. Recently, 'Gulzar' Dehlvi passed away. He was a China famous ______. Kyrgyzstan Actor Myanmar Poet Kazakhstan Politician Q. Limpiyadhura is a disputed territory between Journalist India and ______.

None of these China

Q. World Blood Donor Day is observed every year Bangladesh on ______. Nepal 11 June Sri Lanka 12 June Bhutan 13 June Q. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has 14 June included ______as new symptoms of Coronavirus. 15 June Loss of smell Q. Deforestation hits a record high level in five years in the Amazon rainforest. Which of the following Loss of taste countries is not a part of Amazon rainforest? Body Rashes Brazil 1 and 2 Colombia 1, 2 and 3 Peru Q. Which of the following organisation has Ethiopia developed ‘GermiKlean’ to sanitise uniforms of security forces? 1 and 2 Defence Research and Development Organisation Q. Which of the following country has decided to scrutinize the Muse-Mandalay railway project? Indian Space Research Organisation

Ordnance Factory Board Q. For the first time, India's foreign exchange reserves surge to cross ______. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research 50 million None of these 0.5 trillion Q. Recently, government has launched a portal named as ______for the healthcare supply chain? 1 trillion

AarogyaPath 2 trillion

Shaksham 5 trillion

Sugam Q. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed every year on ______. Sachet 12 June None of these 13 June Q. Grand Anicut Dam is in ______. 14 June Karnataka 15 June Rajasthan 16 June Telangana Q. Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Tamil Nadu Plants (CIMAP) is in ______. Maharashtra Chennai Q. GMR Airports Ltd has signed a MoU for Lucknow construction of a greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in ______. Agra

Jharkhand New Delhi

Andhra Pradesh Pune

Telangana Q. Which of the following state is observing Raja Parba festival? Maharashtra Rajasthan None of these Odisha

Maharashtra Manmohan Virk

Karnataka None of these

Chhattisgarh Q. Who among the following has been appointed as the CEO of UTI Mutual Fund? Q. Which of the following state police has launched the Spandan campaign to protect police personnel Tapan Singhel from depression,stress? Vineet Arora Chhattisgarh Imtaiyazur Rahman Uttar Pradesh Ashish Vohra Haryana None of these Telangana Q. Who among the following has been appointed as None of these the brand ambassador of Bihar Khadi by the state government? Q. The MB Lal Committee is related to ______. Manoj Bajpayee Ownership of Private banks Nawazuddin Siddiqui Safety of female workers at workplace Shweta Tripathi Safety of animals in biodiversity park Pankaj Tripathi Safety guidelines to be followed by the oil companies None of these

Safety guidelines to be followed for water treatment Q. Recently, K K Venugopal got a 1-year extension. by chemical industries He is serving as the ______of India.

Q. Who among the following became the first Attorney General observant sikh to graduate from the US Military Election Commissioner Academy? Comptroller and Auditor General Shakti Singh Central Vigilance Commissioner Anmol Narang None of these Akashdeep Gill

Q. World Wind Day is observed every year on Maharashtra ______. Rajasthan 12 June Telangana 13 June Assam 14 June New Delhi 15 June Q. Recently, The Central Board of Indirect Taxes 16 June and Customs (CBIC) has launched ‘e-Office’ in more than 500 GST and customs offices. Who Q. International Day of Family Remittances is among the following is the chairperson of CBIC observed every year on ______. ______. 13 June M. Ajit Kumar 14 June K F Rustamji 15 June G. Satheesh Reddy 16 June Sanjay Mitra 17 June Avinash Chander Q. Which of the following institutes has developed Q. Which of the following banks has launched a new ‘Workplace Readiness Indicator’ for organizations to salary account for micro, small and medium insulate workplaces from Corona pandemic? enterprises named as Suraksha Salary account? Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru HDFC Bank Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi Airtel Payments Bank Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai ICICI Bank Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Paytm Payments Bank None of these Axis Bank Q. Recently, Minister of State for Home Affairs G Q. Which of the following banks has launched ‘Insta Kishan Reddy launched a robot named ‘GermiBAN’ Flexicash’ paperless overdraft facility for salary in ______. accounts?

ICICI Bank Badminton

State Bank of India None of these

Axis Bank Q. Recently, Madhavrao Patil passed away. He was the co-founder of which of the following banks? Canara Bank Gujarat Cooperative Bank Punjab National Bank Janalaxmi Cooperative Bank Q. Who among the following has won the QualityNZ Culinary Cup 2020? Maharashtra Cooperative Bank

Chef Kunal Kapur Mehsana Urban Cooperative Bank

Chef Ranveer Brar None of these

Chef Vikas Khanna Q. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on ______. Chef Angad Singh Rana 15 June Chef Sanjeev Kapoor 16 June Q. Recently, Dinu Randive passed away. He was a famous ______. 17 June

Actor 18 June

Lyricist 19 June

Journalist Q. Recently, Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev resigned from his post, He was serving as the Prime Minister Painter of______. None of these Uzbekistan Q. Recently, Matt Poore passed away. He was Kyrgyzstan associated with which of the following sports? Tajikistan Boxing Azerbaijan Football None of these Cricket

Q. Which of the following countries topped IMD's Rajasthan World Competitiveness Index? Uttar Pradesh Switzerland Madhya pradesh Singapore Bihar Norway None of these Denmark Q. According to a research report of the Ministry of Austria Earth Sciences (MoES), Average temperature over India projected to rise by ______. Q. Neera is a nutrient-rich health drink obtained from ______. 1.1℃

Palm trees 2.7℃

Mango trees 3.2℃

Coconut trees 4.4℃

Tea leaves 5.7℃

None of these Q. In the first leg, the Sports Ministry has identified state-owned sports facilities in ______states to Q. India became the world’s ______largest establish Khelo India State Centres of Excellence? recipient of the foreign direct investment in 2019 3 4th 4 7th 8 9th 10 11th 13 13th Q. Recently, Heera Singh Rana passed away. He was Q. Which of the following state topped in providing the folk singer of ______. employment to workers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Uttar Pradesh MGNREGA? Uttarakhand

Assam Q. India has been elected as non-permanent member of UN Security Council for the ______time Himachal Pradesh 4th None of these 5th Q. Recently, Mohan Vohra passed away, He was a/an ______. 6th

Journalist 7th

Actor 8th

Army Officer Q. Recently, Satyendar Jain has been tested positive for COVID-19. He is the health minister of Cricketer ______. None of these Delhi Q. Sustainable Gastronomy Day is observed every Maharashtra year on ______. Goa 15 June Andhra Pradesh 16 June Uttar Pradesh 17 June Q. Which of the following bank has partnered with 18 June Maruti for flexible financing schemes? 19 June Karur Vysya Bank Q. India will send its Tri-Services Contingent to Lakshmi Vilas Bank participate in the Victory Day parade of ______. Axis Bank US HDFC Bank Russia None of these France Q. Which of the following Indian company included Japan in the new list of Tech Pioneers released by the None of these World Economic Forum (WEF)?

ZestMoney Banketball

Stellapps None of these

KrazyBee Q. Recently, Achyut Usgaonkar passed away. He was a famous ______. A and B Journalist A, B and C Football player Q. Which of the following countries will host the 4th Asian Youth Para Games? Politician

India Actor

Bangladesh None of these

Bahrain Q. International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is observed every year on Kyrgyzstan ______. Mongolia 15 June Q. Who among the following won Sharjah Online 16 June Chess Championship? 17 June Pentala Harikrishna 18 June Baskaran Adhiban 19 June Vidit Gujrathi Q. Recently, Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev has been Shakhriyar Mamedyarov tested positive for COVID-19. He is the president of None of these ______.

Q. Recently, IM Vijayan has been recommended for Tajikistan Padma Shri. He is associated with which of the Kazakhstan following sports? Azerbaijan Football Armenia Cricket Georgia Hockey

Q. Recently, France has committed to give financial Q. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assistance of ______for India's COVID announced the auction of ______coal blocks? response. 14 100 million Euros 27 200 million Euros 33 500 million Euros 41 700 million Euros 52 800 million Euros Q. Which of the following states has observed “Mask Q. PM Modi paid tribute to Acharya Mahapragya on Day” on 18 June? his birth centenary. Acharya Mahapragya was Maharashtra ______. Karnataka Jain Saint Odisha Buddhist Monk Andhra Pradesh Head of Somnath Temple Telangana Founder of Isha Foundation Q. Recently, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation None of these of India (DFCCIL) has decided to terminate the Q. Who among the following inaugurated an contract to install signalling system and International Workshop on Good Governance telecommunications work with ______. Practices in a Pandemic? USA Amit Shah Nepal Dr. Jitendra Singh China Smriti Irani Russia Nirmala Sitharaman None of these Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Q. British Petroleum’s (BP) India is planning to set up a global business service centre in ______.

Hyderabad Assam

Pune Maharashtra

Chennai Q. India will be the UN Security Council President for ______. New Delhi August, 2021 Agra May, 2021 Q. Recently, KR Sachidanandan passed away. He was a famous ______. January, 202

Journalist November, 2021

Filmmaker None of these

Poet Q. Recently, the government has launched ______portal to Promote R&D in Mining, Mineral Sector. Politician SAGAR Army Officer SATYABHAMA Q. World Refugee Day is observed every year on ______. SAARTHI

17 June SWAYAM

18 June None of these

19 June Q. The Housing Ministry has signed an MoU with ______for a special micro-credit facility for street 20 June vendors. 21 June National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Q. Which of the following Indian states observed the Development 19th Great June Uprising Day on 18th June? Securities and Exchange Board of India Telangana Small Industries Development Bank of India Gujarat Exim Bank Manipur None of these

Q. Karnataka Bank has launched a health insurance Q. Who among the following will take charge as policy to cover the uncertainties posed by the Covid- chairman of the National Institute of Public Finance 19 pandemic. Karnataka Bank is headquartered in and Policy (NIPFP)? ______. Urjit Patel Bangalore Viral Acharya Belgaum Raghuram Rajan Mangalore R Gandhi Mysore None of these Udupi Q. Recently, B.P.R. Vithal passed away. He was a/an Q. Which of the following has become India's first ______. $150 billion company? Freedom Fighter Reliance Industries Limited Economist Tata Consultancy Services Football player HDFC Bank Poet Indian Oil Corporation None of these None of these Q. First International Day of Yoga was observed in Q. Who among the following has been appointed as the year ______. the brand ambassador of JSW Cement? 2013 Sourav Ganguly 2014 Sunil Chhetri 2015 Rahul Dravid 2016 Both A and B 2017 A,B and C Q. World Hydrography Day is observed every year on ______.

18 June

19 June Indonesia

20 June Antarctica

21 June Peru

22 June None of these

Q. World Music Day is observed every year on Q. Summer solstice was observed on ______. ______. 18 June 18 June 19 June 19 June 20 June 20 June 21 June 21 June 22 June 22 June Q. Which of the following countries has offered tariff Q. What is the theme of World Hydrography Day exemption for 97% of exports from Bangladesh? 2020? India Hydrography enabling autonomous technologies China Hydrographic information driving marine Pakistan knowledge Japan Bathymetry - the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways. USA

Mapping our seas, oceans and waterways - more Q. Recently, the World Bank has approved important than ever. ______to Bangladesh for jobs and economic recovery. None of these 1.05 billion dollar Q. Recently, Scientists have finally resolved the mystery behind the 66-million-year-old fossil egg 2.64 billion dollar found in Seymour Island. Seymour Island is in 3.48 billion dollar ______. 3.88 billion dollar Madagascar

4.26 billion dollar None of these

Q. According to a recent report, Mukesh Ambani is Q. Mount Merapi volcano is in ______. ranked as the ______richest person in the world. Japan 14th Chile 11th Peru 9th Australia 8th Indonesia 7th Q. Which of the following organisation has recently Q. Which of the following organisations has received a patent for its Liquid Cooling and Heating partnered with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Garment (LCHG)? Aayog to proactively support the flagship mission’s Indian Space Research Organisation innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across the country? Defence Research and Development Organisation

NTPC Limited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Coal India Limited Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation None of these

Indian Oil Corporation Q. The Insurance Scheme announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers has None of these been extended till ______. Q. Which of the following country’s radio stations July started giving weather bulletins of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura? August

China September

Bangladesh October

Nepal November

Pakistan Q. Which of the following state has started a ‘Play little, Study little’ scheme for school students?

Assam Costa Rica

Uttar Pradesh None of the above

Odisha Q. Recently, Rajinder Goel passed away. He was a famous ______. Tripura Journalist Punjab Cricketer Q. Kamakhya Temple is in ______. Poet Bihar Filmmaker Uttar Pradesh None of these Uttarakhand Q. Recently, Vidyaben Shah passed away. She was a Assam famous ______. Gujarat Painter Q. The Reserve Bank of India has enhanced the Social Activist withdrawal limit of the depositors of fraud-hit PMC Bank to ______. Politician

Rs 60,000 Actress

Rs 80,000 None of these

Rs 1,00,000 Q. International Widows’ Day is observed every year on ______. Rs 1,25,000 20 June Rs 1,50,000 21 June Q. Recently, the Exim Bank has extended USD 20.1 mn credit line to which of the following countries? 22 June

El Salvador 23 June

Guatemala 24 June

Nicaragua Q. International Olympic Day is observed every year on ______.

20 June 1967

21 June 1977

22 June Q. Who among the following inaugurated one of India's largest & first Virtual Healthcare & Hygiene 23 June EXPO 2020? 24 June Rao Inderjit Singh Q. The United Nations High Commissioner for Mansukh Mandaviya Refugees (UNHCR) is headquartered in ______. Parshottam Rupala Geneva Suresh Angadi Vienna None of these Stockholm Q. Which of the following organisations has New York partnered with the International Transport Forum to None of these launch the 'Decarbonising Transport in India'

Q. Which of the following institute has developed project?

Indian receiver chip ‘Dhruva’ for NAVIC, GPS Reserve Bank of India satellites? National Human Rights Commission of India IIT-Kharagpur Defence Research and Development Organisation IIT-Madras NITI Aayog IIT-Bombay None of these IIT-Guwahati Q. Which of the following bank has partnered with None of these Affordplan for the launch of co-brand card ‘Swasth Q. Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee formed the programme’ for healthcare needs?

Bharatiya Jana Sangh in the year ______. Axis Bank

1961 ICICI Bank

1982 HDFC Bank

1951

IDBI Bank Q. Who among the following launched YUKTI (Young India combating COVID with Knowledge, Yes Bank Technology and Innovation)? Q. Recently, Lachhman Singh Lehl passed away. He Harsh Vardhan was a ______. Ravi Shankar Prasad Filmmaker Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ Actor Prakash Javadekar Journalist None of these Singer Q. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has Army Officer recently mandated to provide information about Q. Recently, Steve Bing passed away. He was a ______for the sellers by the Government e- ______. Marketplace (GeM).

Film producer Country of origin

Poet GI Tag information

Journalist Nutrition importance

Footballer Composition

Actor None of these

Q. India recently committed ______to the Q. Which of the following banks has launched Micro United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Mitra program to provide financial assistance up to Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Rs.10 lakhs.

USD 1 million Canara Bank

USD 4 million Yes Bank

USD 8 million Karnataka Bank

USD 10 million South Indian Bank

USD 15 million Axis Bank

Q. According to the World Bank's new release, India Q. Wasim Jaffer has been appointed as the head has retained its position as ______largest economy coach of ______cricket team. on PPP basis for 2017. Uttar Pradesh 2nd Uttarakhand 3rd Assam 4th Manipur 5th Himachal pradesh 6th Q. Recently, Vishwa Mohan Gupta passed away. He Q. According to the latest report by the economic was a/an ______. wing of State Bank of India (SBI), COVID-19 Poet pandemic is likely to bring down India’s per capita income (PCI) by ______in FY21. Actor

3.2% Footballer

4.7% Journalist

5.4% None of these

6.1% Q. Recently, Pournima Zanane passed away. She was associated with which of the following sports? 8.2% Football Q. Who among the following has been appointed as the chairman of Indian Financial Technology & Hockey

Allied Services (IFTAS)? Shooting

R Manohar Archery

Satish Kumar Ojha None of these

T. Rabi Sankar Q. Passport Seva Divas is observed every year on

Mohit Iyyer ______.

None of these 22 June 23 June

24 June Q. Recently, Reliance Jio TV has entered an agreement with which of the following states to 25 June educate 52 lakh students? 26 June Uttar Pradesh Q. Day of the Seafarer is observed every year on Maharashtra ______. Haryana 22 June Assam 23 June Manipur 24 June Q. Recently, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has 25 June inaugurated Devika and Puneja Bridges in 26 June ______.

Q. World’s first yoga university outside India Manipur ‘Vivekananda Yoga University’ has been established Assam in ______. Arunachal Pradesh Singapore Jammu and Kashmir Munich None of these Moscow Q. Rohini Commission is associated with ______. Los Angeles Mid Day Meal scheme Paris Categorization of the Other Backward Classes Q. Which of the following airports in UP has been declared an international airport? Formation of New States

Kanpur Army Pay Scales

Kushinagar None of these

Ayodhya Q. Recently, the government has announced a ______interest subvention to borrowers under the Jhansi

Gorakhpur

'Shishu' category of the flagship Pradhan Mantri 24 June MUDRA Yojana (PMMY). 25 June 1% 26 June 2% 27 June 3% Q. What is the theme of International Day Against 4% Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020?

5% Health for Justice. Justice for Health

Q. Recently, Joel Schumacher passed away. He was Better Knowledge for Better Care a/an ______. Listening to children and youth Football player Listen First Film director None of these Singer Q. In June 2020, The World Bank (WB) has Journalist approved______to help Bangladesh improve road connectivity. None of these 100 million US dollar Q. Who among the following is the author of the book ‘Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved 200 million US dollar India’? 500 million US dollar Sanjeev Sanyal 800 million US dollar Ashwin Sanghi 1,000 million US dollar Amish Tripathi Q. Which of the following country joined the Devdutt Pattanaik 'Alliance for Poverty Eradication' at the UN as its founding member? Anand Neelakantan Bangladesh Q. International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed every year on ______. India

23 June Sri Lanka

Nepal 3 years

Myanmar 5 years

Q. Recently, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Q. Skin cream ‘Fair & Lovely’ will drop ‘Fair’ from has launched ‘eBlood Services’ Mobile App Amid its name. ‘Fair & Lovely’ is a product of ______. COVID-19 Crisis in partnership with ______. ITC Limited Indian Red Cross Society Hindustan Unilever Indo-Global Social Service Society Dabur Savelife Britannia Industries Friends2support Procter and Gamble None of these Q. Recently, Maharashtra government has Q. Which of the following state has won the first announced the Vithabai Narayangaonkar lifetime prize under the e -Panchayat Puraskars-2020? achievement award to Gulabbai Sangamnerkar. Gulabbai is a/an ______. Punjab Folk artist Telangana Painter Tripura Journalist Himachal Pradesh Social Activist Assam None of these Q. After the amendment in “The Karnataka Industries (Facilitation) Act, 2002”, Karnataka Q. New Zealand's Rachel Priest announces her allows medium and small industries to commence retirement. She was associated with which of the manufacturing without having to wait for any following sports? statutory clearances for the first ______year. Football 1 year Badminton 2 years Cricket 2.5 years Tennis

Cricket Q. Which of the following institute has developed nanozymes that destroy the cell membrane of Q. Russia plans to take the first tourist on a space bacteria? walk in ______. IIT Mumbai 2021 IIT Madras 2022 IIT Delhi 2023 IISc Bengaluru 2024 None of these None of these Q. Which of the following company has partnered Q. Which of the following country has topped the list with Switzerland''s HeiQ to launch anti-viral fabric in terms of Money parked in Switzerland's central range ''ViroSecure''? bank? RSWM Ltd USA Dinesh Mills France Raymond Mexico OCM UK None of these None of these Q. Which of the following state has launched Q. Which of the following company has signed a ‘Mukhyamantri Matru Pushti Uphaar Yojana’? MoU with Indian Railways for installation of an IP- based video surveillance system at 6,049 railway Gujarat stations across the country? Maharashtra Rail Vikas Nigam Telangana RITES Limited Assam RailTel Tripura Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India

None of these

Q. Which of the following company has announced New Zealand the launch of a battery swapping facility for electric France vehicles (EVs) in partnership with Sun Mobility? Russia Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Both A and B Indian Oil Corporation Limited Q. China, Pakistan signed a deal for the development Bharat Petroleum of the Kohala power project under CPEC worth $2.4 Hindustan Petroleum billion in PoK. Kohala power project will be constructed on ______river. None of these Jhelum Q. Which of the following team has won the English Premier League 2019-20 title? Indus

Chelsea F.C. Chenab

Liverpool FC Satluj

Manchester City F.C. None of these

FC Barcelona Q. NASA named its headquarters after agency’s first African-American female engineer ______. Real Madrid C.F. Katherine Johnson Q. Sanjita Chanu will receive the Arjuna award for 2018. Sanjita Chanu is associated with ______. Mary.W.Jackson

Boxing Dorothy Vaughan

Weightlifting John Glenn

Wrestling None of these

Swimming Q. President Kovind wishes Prez Rajoelina, People on Madagascar's 60th Independence Day. What is the None of these capital of Madagascar? Q. Which of the following country will host the Maputo FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup? Luanda Australia

Antananarivo None of these

Harare Q. Kempegowda is the founder of the city of ______. None of these Chennai Q. Indian Navy recently inducts indigenously developed ‘Maareech’. ‘Maareech’ is a/an Chandigarh ______Bengaluru Patrol Vessels Visakhapatnam Torpedo Decoy System None of these Landing Craft Utility vessels Q. Which of the following state governments has Submarine launched ''At One Click'' online cash aid initiative for MSMEs in the state? Radar system Maharashtra Q. 'Surakshit Dada-Dadi, Nana-Nani Abhiyan' was launched by ______in collaboration with Piramal Karnataka Foundation. Gujarat National Development Council Punjab NITI Aayog None of these National Human Rights Commission of India Q. Financial services startup Navi has launched a Central Information Commission mobile app to provide instant personal loans targeted at consumers in the middle-income segment. Who None of these among the following is the co-founder of Navi? Q. Who among the following is the current Union Kalyan Krishnamurthy Minister of Tribal Affairs? Ritesh Agarwal Arjun Munda Sachin Bansal Babulal Marandi Sameer Nigam Hemant Soren None of these Ramesh Pokhriyal

Q. Who among the following has been first woman None of these Chief Secretary of Punjab? Q. Which of the following countries has recently Vini Mahajan signed an executive order to prosecute those who Aruna Sundararajan. damage national monuments, making it a punishable Poonam Malakondaiah offence with up to 10 years in jail? Shantha Sheela Nair Japan Smita Sabharwal

Q. International Day of The Tropics is observed US every year on ______. China

26 May Bangladesh

27 May None of these

28 May Q. Recently, Russia has begun voting on

29 May constitutional reforms that could allow President

Vladimir Putin to serve till ______in office. 30 May

2028 Q. Malawi’s opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera recently, won presidential election re-run of Malawi. 2030

What is the capital of Malawi? 2032

Dodoma 2036

Lilongwe 2040

Gitega Q. Which of the following country has the chair of

Kigali Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?

Laos Q. Which of the following state government will

launch a 'Kill Corona' campaign from July 1 to Vietnam control the spread of coronavirus in the state? Singapore Maharashtra Philippines Telangana Cambodia Andhra Pradesh Q. National Statistics Day is observed every year on Madhya Pradesh ______.

Uttar Pradesh 26 May

Q. The Culture Ministry will celebrate ‘Sankalp 27 May Parva’ from 28th June to 12 July 2020. Sankalp 28 May Parva is related to ______.

29 May Polio Vaccination 30 May Plantation of trees Q. P. V. Narasimha Rao served as the ______Prime Nutrition to 0-6 months of children Minister of India? Online classes for school childrens 5th None of these 6th Q. PhonePe has recently tied-up with which of the 9th following banks for UPI multi-bank model? 11th HDFC Bank 13th ICICI Bank

Axis Bank Bangladesh

None of these IndusInd Bank Q. Recently, the Indian government has banned None of these ______Chinese mobile applications citing national security? Q. International Day of Parliamentarism is observed every year on ______. 51

27 June 52

28 June 59

29 June 63

30 June 66

01 July Q. Recently, the World Bank has signed loan agreements for the housing sector of which of the Q. International Asteroid Day is observed every year following Indian state? on ______. Bihar 27 June Assam 28 June Manipur 29 June Tamil Nadu 30 June None of these 01 July Q. Recently, the World Bank has approved a loan of Q. India has signed an agreement for the ______to improve the education system in 6 development of Kholongchhu (Joint Venture) Indian states. Hydroelectric Project with which of the following countries? USD 100 million

Myanmar USD 200 million

Nepal USD 500 million

Bhutan USD 700 million

USD 900 million Q. Recently, Who among the following has announced his resignation from All Parties Hurriyat Q. National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) has launched Conference (G)? five Mobile Soil Testing Labs for testing the soil samples at the doorstep of farmers free of cost. NFL Syed Ali Shah Geelani is headquartered in ______. Mehbooba Mufti Jaipur Shabir Shah Agra Farooq Abdullah Lucknow None of these Noida

Patna

Q. What is the name given to the world's largest convalescent plasma therapy project launched in Maharashtra?

Project Platina

Project Sankalp

Project Rakshak

Project Indra

None of these

Q. Uttarakhand forest department has developed India’s first lichen park in ______.

Joshimath

Kotdwar

Nainital

Munsiyari

None of these