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Important Current Affairs 21st July 2020

National

Consumer Protection Act, 2019 Comes into Force from 20 July 2020

• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 has come into force from July 20, 2020, as the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan stated that the new law will empower the consumers.

• The new law will protect the rights of the consumers through its notified rules and provisions like consumer disputes redressal commissions, consumer protection councils, product liability, mediation, and punishment for the manufacture or sale of products that contain adulterant goods.

Salient Features of Consumer Protection Act 2019

•  Establishment of Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.

• Establishment of Consumer Protection Councils

• Simplified Dispute Resolution Process

• Ease of approaching Consumer Commissions

• Filing from place of residence/work

• Videoconferencing for hearing

• No fee for filing cases upto Rs. 5 lakh

• Alternate Dispute Resolution mechanism of Mediation

• Introduction to the concept of Product Liability

• A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller to be responsible to compensate for injury or damage caused by defective product or deficiency in services

• Rules on e-commerce and direct selling

• Penalty for adulteration of products/spurious goods

AIIMS Delhi begins registration for conducting human trials of COVAXIN

• AIIMS Delhi has begun the registration process for conducting human trials of the indigenously developed Chinese virus vaccine- COVAXIN

• AIIMS-Delhi is one of the 12 institutes chosen by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct phase I and phase II human trials of COVAXIN. The phase I human trials is likely to involve around 375 volunteers, among whom about 100 would be from AIIMs.

Indian direct selling industry records USD 2.477 bn sales in 2019, ranked 15th globally

• In accordance with the report of “The Global Direct Selling – 2019 Retail Sales” by the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), India was ranked 15th in global direct selling industry with sales of USD 2.477 billion in 2019.

• This has shown a growth of 12.1% in comparison to the 19th rank in 2018. The ranking has been topped by the United States (US) which contributed 20% of the global direct selling industry with sales of USD 35.21 billion, followed by China with 13% contribution at 2nd rank, and Korea and Germany with 10% contribution each at 3rd position.

• In terms of the number of direct sellers, India has been ranked at 6th position, proving employment to 57.50 lakh people.In Asia Pacific region, India was ranked 4th which has been topped by Australia and followed by China and Hong Kong at 2nd and 3rd rank.

Awards

Morissana Kouyate and Marianna Vardinoyanniswins 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize

• Guinean doctor Morissana Kouyate and Marianna Vardinoyannis of Greece are the winners of the 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize. The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has made the announcement of the winners of the award which recognizes persons who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity.

• The Nelson Mandela Prize, which is awarded every five years and recognizes those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity, by promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations, while honouring Nelson Mandela’s life, and legacy of reconciliation, political transition, and social transformation. The Mandela Prize was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in June 2014.

Obituary

MP Governor Lalji Tandon passes away

• Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon passed away. He was undergoing treatment since June 11 and passed away after a prolonged illness.

• Due to MP Governor Lalji Tondon illness and his subsequent hospitalization, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has been given additional charge of Madhya Pradesh as well as interim Governor.

Sports

Ballon d'Or 2020 cancelled for first-ever time

• Ballon d'Or will not be awarded this year due to lack of sufficient fair conditions amid C-19, announced France Football on July 20, 2020.

• France Football released an official statement, which read that the Ballon d'Or France Football will not be awarded in 2020 for the first time in its history due to lack of sufficient fair conditions under exceptional circumstances and exceptional provisions.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2020 postponed

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially confirmed on July 20, 2020 that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held Australia 2020 has been postponed due to the ongoing C-19. The T20 World Cup is now likely to be held in October 2021.

• The ICC also decided to postpone two other ICC Men's events to support the current rescheduling, including Men's T20 World Cup 2022 and World Cup 2023.

Appointments and Resignations

SBI Cards Appoints Ashwini Tewari as new MD, CEO

• SBI Cards and Payment Services has appointed Ashwini Kumar Tewari as its new Managing Director and chief executive officer. The new appointment will be valid for two years and his appointment will come into effect from August 1, 2020.

• He was nominated by parent State Bank of India for the position.

Books and Authors

“The Endgame”- Authored by S Hussain Zaidi

• Veteran Crime and Terror writer S Hussain Zaidi has penned a new novel titled “The Endgame” which talks of politics, betrayal and unimaginable terror.

• The book explores the challenges that the security of a country faces from within and without at the same time.“The Endgame” has been published by HarperCollins India.

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Important Current Affairs 18th July 2020

National

PM Modi to address ECOSOC on 75th anniversary of UN

• PM Narendra Modi will be virtually addressing the session of Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on 17th July on the occasion of 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

• This will be PM Modi's first speech at the UN after being elected  to the UN Security Council. Besides the Prime Minister, Norway PM Erna Solberg and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also be addressing the event.

• The theme of the High-Level Segment which is held annually by ECOSOC is “Multilateralism after C-19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary”.

DRDO developed fully indigenous P7 Heavy Drop System for IL 76 aircraft

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed the P7 Heavy Drop System which is capable of para dropping military stores up to 7-ton weight class from IL 76 aircraft.

• The design of this fully indigenous system has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a pioneer Research & Development (R&D) lab of DRDO based in Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

• It’s platform system manufactured by L&T (Larsen & Toubro) while parachutes manufactured by Ordnance Factory.

Indian Railways first cable-stayed bridge ‘AnjiKhad Bridge’ being set up in Jammu & Kashmir

• India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge ‘AnjiKhad bridge ‘is being constructed by the Indian Railways’ in Jammu & Kashmir to connect Katra and Reasi Section of Jammu–Baramulla line.

• The Rs. 458 crore railway bridge is being developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, a Government of India undertaking.

• The total length of the AnjiKhad Bridge is 473.25 metres, standing at a height of 331 metres above the Chenab river bed.

Banking and Economy

ICRA Predicts India’s GDP to Contract 9.5% in FY21

• Credit Rating agency ICRA has sharply revised the GDP forecast for India and expects the Indian economy to contract by 9.5% (-9.5%) in 2020-21. Earlier it had projected the GDP at -5% for FY21.

• The increasing C-19 infections, leading to localised C-19s in some states and cities, affecting the economic activities is the main reason for this sharp revision.

Awards

CPJ International Press Freedom Award 2020 announced

• The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has announced the recipients of the International Press Freedom Awards 2020 include Shahidul Alam from Bangladesh, Mohammad Mosaed from Iran, Dapo Olorunyomi from Nigeria and Svetlana Prokopyeva from Russia.

• All four journalists have faced arrests or criminal prosecution in reprisal for their reporting. In addition to them, lawyer Amal Clooney will be honoured with the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award 2020.

Sports

2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar

• The Federation International de Football Association announced that the 2022 World Cup is to be held in Qatar.

• The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the first world cup to be held in Arab World and also the first in a muslim-majority country.

• Indian National Team ranks 108 in the latest FIFA rankings that were released in 2019.

Days

Nelson Mandela International Day

• The United Nations observes 18 July every year as Nelson Mandela International Day. The day acknowledges Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world. Nelson Mandela Day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change.

• This day marks the contribution to peace through his active involvement in resolving conflicts, promoting human rights, international democracy and reconciliation and in addressing racial issues.

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Important Current Affairs 15th July 2020

National

Government to increase public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025

•  The Union Health Ministry has called for increased expenditure on public health. Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan highlighted during a meeting with the 15th Finance Commission that the government aims to gradually increase the public health expenditure to 2.5 percent of the nation's GDP by 2025.

•  The Minister asserted that the outlay for primary health expenditure will also be made nearly 2/3rd of the total public health expenditure in the country. The Health Minister further emphasized on the importance of increasing the state’s health sector spending to nearly 8 percent of their total budget.

•  The Health Ministry has also revised its requirement of around 4.9 lakh crores to 6.04 lakh crores in the wake of the C-19. The Ministry has asked for additional resources for the states that will be utilized for the achievement of the National Health Policy targets.

Iran drops India from Chabahar rail project

• Iran has dropped India from Chabahar rail project which comprises rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the border with Afghanistan. The Iranian government cited delays from the Indian side in funding and starting the project, for its decision of dropping India from the project.

• Now, Iranian Railways will go ahead without India’s assistance and utilize around $400 million from the Iranian National Development Fund.

International

Singapore enters into recession, GDP falls by 41.2 percent

• Singapore has entered into the phase of economic recession after the country's GDP contracted by around 41.2 percent in last 3 months.

• The extended C-19 amid has adversely impacted the economy of the nation. The announcement was made by Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore.

Banking and Economy

Reliance Industries becomes first Indian company to hit Rs. 12 lakh crore market cap

• Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has become the first Indian firm to hit a market capitalisation mark of Rs. 12 lakh crore. The shares price of the company surged to a record high of Rs. 1,947 on 13 July 2020, after which the Market cap of the firm rose to Rs 12.32 lakh crore.

• The increase in Reliance Industries m-cap comes after it secured deal with Qualcomm Ventures to invest in Jio Platforms for a 0.15 percent equity stake.This is the 13th deal secured by Jio Platforms in a span of 12 weeks, bringing the total funds raised by the company to Rs 1.18 lakh crore.

NABARD organised ‘Digital Choupal’ to mark its 39th foundation day

• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) organised its first ‘Digital Choupal’ to mark its 39th foundation day. During the ‘Digital Choupal’ session, NABARD also announced Rs 5,000 crore of refinance scheme for banks and financial institutions.

•  “Digital Choupal” was conducted in the form of a video conference which was attended by participants of different projects initiated by NABARD, to share their experiences about the projects they are involved in.

Awards

ISRO Chief K Sivan named for Von Karman Award 2020

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan has named for Von Karman Award 2020 by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

• The Von Karman Award is known as the highest distinction of the IAA. Dr K. Sivan is going to receive an award in March 2021 at Paris France.

• Udupi Ramachandra Rao was the first Indian to receive the von Karman award.The award was presented to him in 2005 and Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan received the Von Karman award in 2007.

Appointments and Resignations

Hemang Amin appointed as interim CEO of BCCI

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Hemang Amin as its interim chief executive officer (CEO).

• He will replace Rahul Johri who recently resigned as the chief executive officer (CEO) of BCCI and his resignation was accepted by the BCCI office-bearers.

Days

World Youth Skills Day

• United Nations celebrates World Youth Skills Day globally on 15 July every year. The theme of World Youth Skills Day 2020 is “Skills for a Resilient Youth“.

• The day is celebrated as an opportunity for young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and public and private sector stakeholders to acknowledge as well as celebrate the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

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Important Current Affairs 29th June 2020

National

India becomes 1st country to control locusts through drones

• India is the first country to control locusts through drones. Under the Make in India initiative, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW), Agriculture Ministry has indigenously developed a vehicle-mounted Ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayer for locust control.

• In total 60 ground control teams of Locust Circle Offices and 12 drones are being used for locust control operations in the affected areas.

• Locust is a crop-threatening migratory pest that has entered the country through the India-Pakistan border.

Piyush Goyal chairs 49th Governing Council Meeting of NPC

• Shri Piyush Goyal, Commerce & Industry Minister and President of NPC Governing Council chaired the 49th Governing Council Meeting of National Productivity Council (NPC)

• The meeting witnessed the participation of Government Officers, Leaders of Industry Associations, Industry captains, Trade Union leaders, Productivity Councils of States and other eminent personalities.

• NPC is an autonomous body which comes under the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.

Indian Navy inducts Advanced Torpedo Decoy System “Maareech”

• The Indian Navy has inducted the Advanced Torpedo Decoy System ‘Maareech’ in its fleet on 26 June 2020, to further enhance the Anti-Submarine Warfare capability of the Indian Navy

• Maareech is capable of being fired from all frontline warships.

• The Design and Development of this anti-torpedo decoy system has been undertaken indigenously by DRDO labs-(NSTL and NPOL).

Banking and Economy

World Bank Approves USD 500 mn loan to improve quality of education system in 6 Indian States

• The World Bank has approved loan worth $500 million (about Rs 3,700 crore) for Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS) on June 24, 2020, to improve quality and governance of school education in six Indian states.The six states are Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

• The STARS program builds on the long partnership between India and the World Bank (since 1994), for strengthening public school education and to support the country’s goal of providing Education for All.

PhonePe partners with ICICI Bank on UPI multi-bank model

• Flipkart-owned PhonePe has partnered with ICICI Bank on UPI multi-bank model giving its users the option to create and use multiple UPI IDs with ICICI and Yes Bank”s handles.

• The ‘@ibl’ handle for ICICI Bank users and ‘@ybl’ handle for YES Bank users will enable easy, quick and contactless payment services to over 200 million registered PhonePe users.

Ranking

At 26th position, Bengaluru Becomes India’s Only City in Top 30 Global Startup Ecosystems Ranking 2020 Released by Startup Genome

• According to the report, ‘Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2020; the New Normal for the Global Startup Economy and the Impact of -19’ released by Startup Genome, Bangalore has become the only city in the country to be included in the world’s top-30 startup ecosystem ranking & placed 26th position. At the same time, the nation’s capital Delhi has been ranked 36th in the list.

• Further, Mumbai ranked first in a parallel “100 emerging ecosystem rankings 2020” followed by Jakarta, Zurich.

Days

National Statistics Day

• The Government of India celebrates Statistics Day on June 29 every year since 2007 to popularize the use of Statistics in everyday life and sensitize the public as to how Statistics helps in shaping and framing policies.

• The day marks the birth anniversary of Father of Indian Statistics, Prof. P C Mahalanobis, in recognition of his invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System.

• The theme of Statistics Day, 2020 is SDG- 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) & SDG- 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls).

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Important Current Affairs 28th June 2020

National

NITI Aayog launches behaviour change campaign ‘Navigating the New Normal’

• NITI Aayog has launched a behaviour change campaign titled ‘Navigating the New Normal’ and its website to guide people to follow norms during the ‘Unlock’ phase of the c- 19, in order to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

• The campaign has been developed under the guidance of Empowered Group 6, constituted by the GoI, under the Chairmanship of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

Maharashtra Govt introduced “Maha Parwana” plan to boost investment

• Maharashtra State Government has introduced “MahaParwana” plan to attract fresh investment in industries. This plan will offer incentives and a single-window clearance system.

• The companies with investment proposals for Rs.50 crore or more will get relaxation on getting clearances from multiple departments with assurance letters (Maha Parwana).

• These companies should apply at the Maharashtra Industry, Trade and Investment Facilitation Cell (MAITRI), single window system and get online permission within 48 hours.

International

VaYu, World’s first yoga University outside India inaugurated in Los Angeles

• The world’s first yoga university outside India has been launched in Los Angeles, as a part of the 6th International Yoga Day commemorations.

• The University has been named as Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU), and will offer programmes that combine scientific principles and modern research approaches to the ancient Indian practice of yoga.

• VaYU will offer online graduate programmes based on scientific principles and modern research approaches to yoga.

• Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana(SVYASA) is the world’s first yoga university, set up in Bengaluru, India.

Sports

Rahul Dravid beats Sachin Tendulkar in Wisden India’s poll

• According to a poll conducted by Wisden India, Rahul Dravid is the greatest Indian Test batsman of all time. Dravid beats Sachin Tendulkar by a narrow margin of votes in the final round of voting. Dravid got 52 percent of the votes. Dravid saw off Tendulkar within the final round of the voting by a narrow margin despite trailing at 42 per cent.

• The poll initially had 16 Indian batting greats, with Sunil Gavaskar and ViratKohli being the 2 others to possess made it through to the ‘semi-finals’. Gavaskar beat Kohli within the ‘third-place play-off’ by a narrow margin.

Ranking

India slips down at 77th place in accounting money in Swiss banks

• Swiss National Bank (SNB) has released ‘Annual banking statistics, 2019’. According to the latest SNB data, India has moved down three places to 77th rank in terms of money parked by its citizens.

• However, many neighbouring countries are below India in the list. Among them, Pakistan is ranked 99th, Bangladesh 85th, Nepal 118th, Sri Lanka 148th, Myanmar 186th and Bhutan 196th.

Days

Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day: 27 June

• The United Nations Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day is held on June 27 since 2017 to celebrate the work of MSME in local and global economies and their contribution to sustainable development.

• 2020 Theme is “C-19: The Great C- 19 and its impact on Small Business“

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Important Current Affairs 26th June 2020

National

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launches eBlood Services Mobile App

• Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on June 25, 2020 launched the eBlood Services Mobile Application. The application is an initiative of the Indian Red Cross Society, which is dedicated to the fight against C-19.

• Those in need can get registered on the app and know where to get the required blood. The Health Minister stated that people can demand up to four units of blood.

• The Indian Red Cross Society's blood banks will wait up to 12 hrs for them.

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Introduces Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Scheme for Women Empowerment

•  The Madhya Pradesh Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited(MPMKVVCL) introduced the Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Scheme for women empowerment.

•  Under this scheme, women Self-Help Groups at Gram Panchayat level will act as Nishtha Vidyut Mitra.

International

Iran to develop military base in Indian Ocean

•  The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran is planning to set up its permanent military base in the Indian Ocean.

•  Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri announced that the military base is expected to be developed by March 2021.

Banking and Economy

RBI directs banks, NBFCs, digital lending platforms to disclose full information

• The Reserve Bank of India has directed the banks, Non Banking Financial Corporations and digital lending platforms to disclose full information up front on their websites to customers to make the digital lending more transparent.

• The RBI’s follows several complaints against exorbitant interest rates and harsh recovery measures of the lending platforms.

• The RBI stated that a letter must be issued to the borrower on the letter head of the bank/ NBFC concerned immediately after the loan sanction. A copy of the loan agreement shall also be provided to all borrowers at the time of the disbursement of loans. The RBI also asked the banks and NBFCs to create awareness about the grievance redressal mechanism.

Awards

e-Panchayat Puraskar 2020 to Himachal Pradesh

•  Himachal Pradesh state Panchayati raj department wins 1st prize under e-Panchayat Puraskar-2020. This prize was given by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj. All the 3,226 panchayats of the state have been provided internet facility and people can access various services online.

•  The various services such as family register, registration of birth, death and marriages are registered online in the panchayats. Union ministry of Panchayati raj has made a lot of efforts to bring in transparency, efficiency and accountability in gram panchayats’s functioning.

Acquisitions and Mergers

CCI approves Jaadhu Holdings LLC’s acquisition of 9.99 percent stake in Jio Platforms

•The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Jaadhu Holdings LLC’s acquisition of a 9.99 percent stake in Jio Platforms. 

•Jaadhu Holdings LLC is a newly incorporated company, which was formed in March 2020 under the laws of the US state of Delaware. It is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Facebook.

•Jio Platforms hold 100 percent of the issued and outstanding share capital of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL).

Days

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed on 26th June every year. This day is observed by the United Nations to raise awareness among the people about the human torture that it is not only unacceptable but it is also a crime.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

•  International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed globally on 26th June every year. The day is observed by the United Nations as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

•  The theme of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020: “Better Knowledge for Better Care”.

India's first Cricket World Cup lifted on this day in 1983

•  India lifted its first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup on June 25 in the year 1983. 37 years ago, India made history by lifting its Cricket World Cup by defeating West Indies by 43 runs at Lord's Cricket Ground, England.

•  Kapil Dev-led Indian cricket team managed to score only 183 runs that were enough to beat the West Indies.

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Important Current Affairs 21st June 2020

National

PM Narendra Modi addresses the nation, promotes yoga to fight

• PM Modi in his message on sixth International Yoga Day stated that Yoga has emerged as a force of unity and it also deepens the bonds of humanity. It doesn't discriminate and goes beyond color, race, faith, gender, and nations.

• It was the first time that Yoga day celebration was held virtually, ever since it was instituted in 2015.This day is celebrated every year on June 21.The date June 21 was suggested by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his UN address.

• PM Modi picked this date, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere. This day also shares a special significance in many parts of the world.

Union Minister launches R&D Portal “SATYABHAMA”

• Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi has launched R&D Portal “Science and Technology Yojana for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Mining Advancement (SATYABHAMA)”.

• The R&D Portal SATYABHAMA has been designed, developed and implemented by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Mines Informatics Division.It has been integrated with NGO Darpan Portal of NITI Aayog.

• The newly launched portal will increase efficiency as well as effectiveness in the implementation of the Scheme as it allows online submission of project proposals along with monitoring of the projects and utilization of funds/grants.

Banking and Economy

RIL reaches $150-billion market valuation mark

• The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has reached $150-billion mark in term of market capitalisation. 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.

• With this achievement, the market capitalisation of Reliance Industries Limited is more than that of Total SA, Royal Dutch Shell and BP among the top global energy players.

Appointments and Resignations

Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel appointed as Chairman of NIPFP

• Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP).His four-year term will begin from June 22, 2020.

• The National Institute of Public Finance and Policy is an autonomous research institute under the Ministry of Finance, based in New Delhi. It conducts research on public finance and contributes to the process of policy-making relating to public finance.

Days

World International Day of Yoga

• United Nations celebrates International Day of Yoga globally on 21 June every year to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

• The theme of International Day of Yoga 2020 is ‘Yoga for Health – Yoga at Homeand Yoga with Family'.

Father's Day

• Father's Day is a day of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on March 19 as Saint Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages.

• Father's day is celebrated in many parts of the world at different times of the year, mostly in March, May, and June. However, Father's Day is usually celebrated in India on the third Sunday in June, meaning that Father's Day 2020 will be celebrated on June 21.

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Important Current Affairs 16th June 2020

National

Centre Launches ”Aarogyapath” Healthcare Supply Chain Portal

• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched a healthcare supply chain portal named ”Aarogyapath”, to provide real-time availability of critical healthcare supplies to manufacturers, suppliers and customers.

• The portal AarogyaPath can be accessed at https://www.aarogyapath.in.

• The initiative aims at filling a critical gap in last-mile delivery of patient care within India through improved availability and affordability of healthcare supplies.

India gets first diagnostics lab for infectious diseases

• India has got its first infectious disease diagnostics lab as a part of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’. This mobile laboratory has been built in a record time of only 8 days after the receipt of Automotive Chassis from Bharat Benz.

• The Department of Bio-Technology has supported the development of this lab.

PepsiCo to invest USD 3 million for safe water access

•  PepsiCo Foundation announced on June 15, 2020 that it will invest USD 3 million to provide safe water access to agricultural communities and help women in high water-risk areas in West Bengal and Maharashtra in association with Water Aid.

•  The safe water access programme will provide around 2 lakh farmers and their families access to piped water supply for household use and increased water resources. It will also help establish community-managed water distribution systems in these communities.

•  This decision is a part of PepsiCo Foundation's new goal of reaching 100 million people with safe water access worldwide by 2030. The foundation has helped more than 44 million people gain access to safe water since 2006.

International

Kathy Lueders becomes first female to head Human Space Flight Program of NASA

• Kathy Lueders has been appointed as the new Associate Administrator of Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Mission Directorate. With this, she becomes the first female to head the human space flight program of NASA.

• Lueders has been assisting NASA in sending astronauts to space since 2014 on private spacecraft.

Banking and Economy

Bank of Baroda to completely digitise lending operations

•  Bank of Baroda, India’s third-largest lender has decided to completely digitise it’s lending operations including agriculture, home, MSME, auto and personal loans.

•  The bank is looking to completely do away with paper-based lending. It has reached out to the big four consultants like McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group to help set up a “digital lending department”.

•  The approval and disbursal of fresh loans will now happen through the new digital platform while past loans will also be digitised to cut costs and improve profitability. The bank is planning to set up its digital department within two months.

Obituary

India’s oldest first-class cricketer Vasant Raiji passes away at 100

• Vasant Raiji, the oldest first-class cricketer of India has recently passed away. He was 100-year-old.

• The legendary cricketer Vasant Raiji celebrated his 100th birthday on 26 January 2020.

• Raiji, a right-handed batsman, played in 9 first-class matches from 1939 to 1950, scoring 277 runs with 68 being his highest score.

Former New Zealand cricketer Matt Poore passes away

• Former New Zealand Test cricketer, Matt Poore passed away. He was featured in 14 Tests for New Zealand, 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.

Days

International Day of Family Remittances

• International Day of Family Remittances is observed on 16th June every year. The day recognizes the contribution of over 200 million migrants to improve the lives of their 800 million family members back home and to create a future of hope for their children.

• This year International Day of Family Remittances is celebrated under the theme: “Building resilience in times of crisis”

World Blood Donor Day

• World Blood Donor Day is marked by the World Health Organization (WHO) all around the world on every 14 June to create awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.

• The theme for the Blood donor day 2020 is ‘Safe Blood Saves Lives’. It would be promoted with the slogan ‘Give blood and make the world a healthier place.’

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Important Current Affairs 10th June 2020

National

Highest Allocation to MGNREGA Programme

• The Government of India has allocated Rs 1,01,500crores under the MGNREGA programme in the year 2020-21 so far. This is the highest provision of funds allocated for the scheme since its launch.

• The Government of India has already released Rs 31,493 crores. So far 6.69 crore persons have been offered work under the scheme. In May 2020, Rs 2.51crores was spent for the scheme per day. The GoI increased the wages under the scheme from Rs 182 to Rs 202 per day.

• Under the scheme, the focus is given to irrigation, water conservation, horticulture. The scheme also focuses on beneficiary works that promote livelihood.

World Bank lends Rs 1950 crore loans to West Bengal

• West Bengal government has received a loan amount of Rs 1950 crore from the World Bank. The loan amount has been lend to the West Bengal Government to tackle C-19 situation and developmental work in the state.

• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that out of it, Rs. 1,100 crore will be spent for creating Industrial infrastructures and remaining Rs. 850 crore have been allocated for spending on various Social-Welfare schemes.

International

World Bank: India’s economy to contract by 3.2 per cent in fiscal year 2020/21

• According to World Bank, India’s economy will shrink by 3.2 per cent in the current fiscal.

• The Washington-based multilateral lender said that the C-19  and the multi-phased  imposed to curb its spread has resulted in a devastating blow to the Indian economy.

• In its latest edition of the Global Economic Prospect, the World Bank downgraded its projection of India by a massive negative nine per cent.

• In India, growth is estimated to have slowed to 4.2 per cent in the fiscal year 2019/20 (the year ending in March-2020) and output is projected to contract by 3.2 per cent in fiscal year 2020/21.

GoI facilitates filling of NIL GST Return through SMS

• The Government of India has allowed taxpayers to fill their NIL GST monthly reurn form through SMS. This will improve ease of GST compliance to more than 22 lakh taxpayers.

• The facility of filing the NIL form through SMS has been made available in GSTN portal. The portal also allows the users to track their returns.

• The GST is the single tax imposed on goods and services. The GST bill was first introduced in 2014 as the Constitution (122nd) Amendment bill.

Acquisitions and Mergers

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

• Jio Platforms has received investment of Rs 5683.50 crore from a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). Hence, ADIA has bought 1.16% stake in Jio Platforms with its investment of Rs 5683.50 crore.

• The investment done by ADIA valued the Jio Platforms at an equity value of Rs 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore.

Obituary

Former union minister and Odisha MP Arjun Charan Sethi passes away

• Former Union Water Resources Minister Arjun Charan Sethi passed away. He was eight-time MP from Bhadrak, Odisha. He was Water Resources Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet from 2000 to 2004.

•  The veteran politician was also elected to Odisha Assembly twice on Janata Dal ticket in 1991 and 1995 from Bhandaripokhari.

Days

World Accreditation Day 2020

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

• The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) decided the theme for WAD 2020 as “Accreditation: Improving Food Safety”.

Tags: Railway (NTPC), Bank PO, SSC, SBI Clerk, RRB NTPC
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Important Current Affairs 5th June 2020

National

Union Cabinet clears ordinance to create ‘One India, One Agriculture Market’

• The union cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved an ordinance on June 3, 2020, that will pave the way for the creation of ‘One India, One Agriculture Market’.

• The ordinance aims at setting up an ecosystem where farmers and traders will have the freedom of choice of sale and purchase of the agricultural produce.

• The Cabinet decision was announced by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar.

GoI launches “The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP)”

• Government of India has launched “The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP)”. This programme is an initiative of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of HRD, and Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

• TULIP programme aims to provide internship opportunities to fresh graduates in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as well as Smart Cities across the nation.

• The programme would also facilitate practical experience to the students of India and hence help in infusing fresh ideas and innovative thinking into the working of Urban Local Bodies and smart cities.

India- Australia Virtual Meet

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 4 held the first-ever ‘India-Australia’ virtual summit with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Australian PM was earlier scheduled to visit India this year.

• The ‘bilateral virtual summit’ signifies the strengthening of India’s ties with Australia as both the countries also signed 7 agreements on defence, public reforms, and critical technology.

International

World food price index hits 17-month low in May 2020: UN

•  The United Nations food agency announced on June 4, 2020 that the world food prices fell for the fourth consecutive month in May 2020, hitting a 17-month low.

•  The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) food price index averaged 162.5 points in May, the lowest monthly reading since December 2018. The index measures monthly changes in the prices of cereals, dairy products, oilseeds, meat and sugar.

•  The dairy price index also dropped by 7.3%, led by sharp falls in prices of butter and cheese, partly because of lower import demand.

•  The cereal price index also fell by 1% as coarse grain prices continued to fall with US maize prices falling and wheat export prices falling, amid expectations of ample global supplies. However, international rice prices have edged higher during this period. Rice production reached an all-time high of 508.7 million tonnes in 2020, up by 1.6% from 2019.

•  The meat index also slipped 0.8%, as poultry and pig meat prices continued to fall, reflecting high export availabilities and despite an increase in import demand in East Asia.

Obituary

Legendary Filmmaker Basu Chatterjee passes away

• Legendary Filmmaker & the National Film Award winner Basu Chatterjee passed away. He was known for his middle-of-the-road cinema and films like “Chhoti Si Baat” and “Rajnigandha”. He also directed two hit TV serials namely “Byomkesh Bakshi” and “Rajani”.

• He received National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare for his film Durga in 1992.

Renowned lyricist Anwar Sagar passes away

• Veteran lyricist and member of Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS), Anwar Sagar passed away.

• The lyricist also has to his credit films like Khiladi, Yaarana, Salaami, Aa Gale Lag Jaa and Vijaypath among more.

Appointments and Resignations

Uday Kotak takes over as President of CII

• MD & CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak has taken over as the President of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the year 2020-21.

• He has replaced the chairman and MD of Kirloskar Systems, Vikram Kirloskar as the President of CII.

Days

World Environment Day 2020: Global CO2 emissions hit record high in May

• The World Environment Day 2020 was observed across the globe on June 5, 2020 with an emphasis on the need to care for nature and humanity. World Environment Day is observed every year to raise global awareness on environmental issues.

• This year’s theme of Environment Day is ‘Biodiversity’. The World Environment Day 2020 theme is extremely important, especially with the recent events of major bushfires in Australia, Brazil and the United States.

• The day provides an opportunity to broaden the “basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises, and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.”

Tags: bank clerk, SSC, SBI Clerk, RRB NTPC
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