GK and Current Affairs Updates

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

PV Ramashastri appointed UP ADG Law and Order.

• IPS PV Ramashastri on Monday assumed the charge as Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order, Uttar Pradesh. This comes after CM Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, transferred six senior police officers after reviewing state's law and order situation. Praising his predecessor, Ramashastri said during former ADG (Law and Order), Anand Kumar's tenure, there were "stern actions against hardcore criminals".

DAYS:

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought observed on June 17.

• World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought day is observed every year on June 17

The theme for this year is Let's grow the future together.

Aim: To promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.

Land degradation neutrality is achieved through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation at all levels. 

• United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres land degradation and drought are major threats affecting millions of people worldwide, particularly women and children.

• Every year, the world loses 24 billion tons of fertile soil and dryland degradation reduces national domestic product in developing countries by up to 8 per cent annually.

Protecting and restoring land and better using it can reduce forced migration, improve food security and spur economic growth.

• They can also help to address the global climate emergency.

To recognize the imperative of combating desertification as part of the efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals

About Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change

Formed: 1985

Headquarters: New Delhi

Annual budget: ₹2,675.42 crore

Minister responsible: Prakash Javadekar

SPORTS:

Joshna Chinappa wins record 17th national title.

• Indian squash player Joshna Chinappa won a record 17th national title after beating Sunayna Kuruvilla 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5. Chinappa broke the 16-time national champion Bhuvneshwari Kumari's record, which stood for 27 years. Rajasthan's Bhuvneshwari had won the national titles from 1977 to 1992. In the men's final, Mahesh Mangaonkar won the title.

NATIONAL:

Two female scientists Ritu Kridhal and Vanitha to head Indias 2nd Moon mission Chandrayaan-2

• For the first time, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has named two ladies researchers - Ritu Karidhal (as mission executive) and Muthayya Vanitha (as undertaking chief) - to head the India's second Moon mission Chandrayaan-2.

•  ISRO Chairman K Sivan reported that near 30 percent of the ISRO group chipping away at Chandrayaan 2 are ladies. Ritu Karidhal was alluded as the 'Rocket Woman of India'.

• She wound up popular with the dispatch of the MarsOrbiter Mission where she was the appointee activities chief.

Union Cabinet cleared NDIAC Bill, 2019 on institutionalised arbitration

• The Union Cabinet has cleared the New Delhi International Arbitration Center (NDIAC) Bill, 2019, which accommodates setting up of a free and self-governing body for institutional intervention.

• It additionally plans to get and move the endeavors of International Center For Alternative Dispute Resolution to New Delhi International Arbitration Center (NDIAC) with impact from March 2 this year.

• The Bill gives to supplant and nullify the NDIAC Ordinance, 2019. The proposed New Delhi International Arbitration Center is going by an administrator, who has been a judge of the Supreme Court or a judge of a high court or a prominent individual, having uncommon learning and involvement in the direct or organization of assertion.

Scientists places worlds highest weather stations atop Mount Everest

• Scientists from National Geographic Society and Tribhuvan University installed have installed two highest weather stations in the world in an expedition to Mount Everest that wrapped up in June 2019. The two weather monitoring stations are located at an altitude of 8,430 meters (27,657 feet) and 7,945 meters (26,066 feet). Also, three other stations have been set up across the Mount Everest.

• The setting up of the weather station aim to collect weather data. The data gathered from the stations will help scientists to understand how rising global temperatures impacts the rapidly melting glaciers.

• The nearly two month expedition involved a team of more than 30 scientists from all over the world, including 17 Nepali researchers. The team also collected the world highest ice core sample at 8,020 meters , which will help the scientists study the deep record of precipitation on the mountain and composition of the atmosphere during pre-industrial times.

• The project also reached another milestone of placing the world's highest helicopter-based lidar scan and the most detailed photogrammetric imaging, also with lidar scans, of the Everest Base Camp area and the entire Khumbu Glacier.

INTERNATIONAL:

India designated as guest country at Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico

• India designated as the Guest of Honour at the 33rd Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (Guadalajara International Book Fair)in Mexico, the National Book Trust.

The book fair organized from November 30 - December 8,

India pavilion at the fair will showcase over 35 Indian authors and artists, along with 15 publishing houses.

• India displays a wide array of its rich and composite literary and cultural heritage through literary and academic activities comprising conferences.

Ancient and rare manuscripts including "Mahabharata" and "Ramayana" will be put on exhibition, along with photo books, handicrafts, and paintings.

The exhibition will run parallel to the book fair in the pavillion

They will feature art by 40 renowned Indian women artists including Arpana Caur, Paula Sengupta, and Seema Kohli.

• The "Festival of India" will showcase folk, classical and contemporary cultural programmes.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

RBI directed all the banks to grout ATMs to a structure to enhance security

• The Reserve Bank of India has requested that the banks guarantee their ATMs are grouted to a divider, column, or floor before September month's over, with the exception of those introduced in high verified premises, for example, air terminals.

•  The declaration accompanies a mean to improve security of the money candy machines. The ATMs will be worked for money renewal just with advanced One Time Combination (OTC) locks. All banks can likewise reveal a far reaching e-reconnaissance instrument at the ATMs. This will guarantee convenient alarms and fast reaction.

• Advisory group on Currency Movement (CCM): The RBI had set up a Committee on Currency Movement (CCM) in 2016. The advisory group was solicited to audit the whole extent from security of fortune in travel and submit reports in regards to that. According to the proposals recommended by the board, the Reserve Bank of India has now issued the guidelines gone for alleviating dangers in ATM activities and upgrading security.

DAYS AND MONTHS:

June month is celebrated as the LGBTQ Pride month

• June month is celebrated as the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) Pride month all over the world. The LGBTQ pride month is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of Stonewall riots at Stonewall Inn in New York, a gathering space for LGBTQ community during the 60s.

• It provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBT community. The month is observed by United States, United Kingdom, Canada. LGBT History Month originated in the United States. It was first celebrated in 1994.

• The commemoration of the month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

• History: On June 28, 1969, police raided the inn, leading to the gay liberation movement in the US. 'Mother of Pride' Brenda Howard organised the first pride parade a year later.

SPORTS:

India remained at 101 in the latest FIFA Rankings, Belgium on Top

• The Indian men’s football team remained static at the 101st position in the latest FIFA rankings. India recently participated in King's Cup in Thailand, in which it lost one match and won the other in the tournament.

• Belgium remained to top the overall FIFA world rankings, followed by France, Brazil, England, and Portugal.

• The Indian team is at the 18th spot among the Asian countries. Iran has become the only Asian country to feature in the top 20 as they moved one spot to finish at the 20th rank.

About FIFA:

Full form: Federation International Day Football Association

Founded at: Paris, France

Founded: 21 May 1904

President: Gianni Infantino

Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland

Membership: 211 national associations.

NATIONAL:

India to impose retaliatory tariffs on 29 US goods

• Ministry of Commercehas announced to impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods that will be effective from June 16 onwards. The retaliatory tariffs on 29 goods imported from the U.S. The Ministry initially decided to  impose tariffs in 2018. The decision is ahead of the meeting between Modi and Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan.The move made by the trade ministry was approved by the Ministry of External Affairs.

• The tariffs will be applied on $220-290 million worth of goods that are imported from the US, and will have about the same impact as the tariffs imposed by Washington on India in 2018.

Ministry of Finance said that the Commerce ministry will release the official notification of the tariffs before 16 June.  

Why India is imposing tarrifs:

• In March 2018, the US imposed 25% tariff on steel and 10% import duty on aluminium. India was one of the major exporters of these items.

• Trarrifs on 29 major products ere impacted which includes Chickpeas, Bengal gram, Mansur dal, Boric acid, domestic reagents, apples, Binders for foundry moulds. India repeatedly asked for exemption from these higher tariffs, but US did not respond.

• On June 2018, India decided to retaliate by imposing duties but extended the deadline.

On 5 June 2019, the U.S. withdrew export incentives to India under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme. India was the largest beneficiary of GSP.

India ranks 141 in the 2019 Global Peace Index

• Iceland topped the Global Peace Index 2019 rankings which was released by Institute for Economics & Peace.  Since 2008, Iceland holds the most peaceful country in the world. India ranked 141 among 163 countries. In 2018, India ranked at 136th among 163 countries.

• Afghanistan ranked as the least peaceful country in the world. Th has replaced Syria, which is now the second least peaceful.

Parameters:

The Australian think tank ranked countries according to their level of peacefulness.

The analysis were based on three major domains:

1) the level of societal safety and security

2) the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict

3) the degree of militarization

• Top/Bottom 5 countries:

The top five countries in the list are Iceland, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark.

The least 5 peaceful countries in the list are Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan, Syria and Afghanistan (ranked the least) remains the world's least peaceful counties.

INTERNATIONAL:

NASA's OSIRIS REx spacecraft creates new record

• NASA's OSIRIS-REx rocket entered its second orbital stage around space rock Bennu, called Orbital B on June 12, 2019. It broke its very own reality record for the nearest circle of a planetary body.

• In the Orbital B stage, the move set the rocket in a circle 680 meters over the outside of space rock Bennu. The past record was set by OSIRIS-REx on 31 December, 2018, when the rocket flew 1.33 km over the space rock's surface during Orbital A stage.

OSIRIS-REx:

•  The OSIRIS-REx rocket was sent to consider the space rock Bennu and return an example from its surface to Earth. The rocket is on a seven-year venture. The example of a crude space rock will enable the researchers to comprehend the arrangement of the Solar System over 4.5 billion years prior. Test gathering has been booked for summer of 2020. The shuttle is relied upon to convey the example to Earth in September 2023.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

India's FDI Inflows during the five fiscal years of the Modi Govt hit to $42 billions

• India ended up being the sub district's biggest beneficiary getting remote direct ventures worth $42 billion out of 2018. The interest in India billion with solid inflows in assembling, correspondence and money related administrations.

• As indicated by the report, FDI inflows have expanded by 3.5% to $54 billion. India pulled in over 77% of the all out remote direct speculations eventually arrived up toward the South Asian district. The development in India in cross-fringe merger and acquisitions (M&As) came to $33 billion of every 2018 from $23 billion per year back. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka rose to a record level, to $3.6 billion and USD 1.6 billion, individually, while Pakistan saw a 27% decrease in venture to USD 2.4 billion, the report read.

• A few nations received arrangement measures to advance and encourage venture with India To revise the model concession concurrence on open private associations in the port area.

•  The report featured that of the 5,400 extraordinary financial zones (SEZs) on the planet, more than 4,000 are in creating nations in Asia. China bested the rundown at 2,543 pursued by Philippines (528), India with 373, Turkey - 102, Thailand - 74 Korea 47, Malaysia - 45.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION:

Narasimhan has been appointed as CEO of Reckitt Benckiser

• PepsiCo executive Laxman Narasimhan has been delegated as the CEO of the British shopper products goliath Reckitt Benckiser. He will succeed Rakesh Kapoor.

• Narasimhan will join Reckitt as CEO-assign and be designated to the board on July 16. He will continue his office and become bunch CEO on September 1. Narasimhan's underlying needs will be to concentrate on conveying outperformance particularly in the wellbeing specialty unit, and to drive the Lysol creator's arrangement to part the firm into two specialty units under a similar organization.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

Akshaya Patra was awarded the BBC World Service Global Champion Award

• The Bengaluru-based NGO Akshaya Patra has been granted the BBC World Service Global Champion Award for the program. The honor is exhibited at the BBC Food and Farming Awards in Bristol, London.

•  The honor perceives an undertaking or individual who is changing the way the world produces, forms, expends or considers sustenance to improve things.

• Akshaya Patra was chosen by a global board of judges from selections sent in by the World Service group of spectators around the globe. Different activities on the waitlist included UK philanthropy WRAP, and Food 4 Education.

OBITUARIES:

Poet and lyricist Pazhavila Ramesan passed away on 13 June

• Poet and lyricist Pazhavila Ramesan passed away on 13 June 2019 at Thiruvananthapuram. He was 83. He was debilitated for quite a while.

• Pazhavila Ramesan: Ramesan had gotten the 2017 Kerala Sahithya Akademi grant for generally speaking commitments. He composed verses for Malayalam motion pictures, for example, Njattadi, Aashamsakalode, Uncle Bun, Malootty, and Vasudha.

• He was co-manager of K. Balakrishnan's Kaumudi Weekly in the sixties. He worked at the State Institute of Languages in different limits till 1993.

• He is a beneficiary of different honors, Ramesan brought out verse accumulations, for example, Mazhayude Jalakam, Njan Ente Kadukalelikku, and Pazhavila Ramesante Kavithakal, other than accumulations of his compositions, for example, Ormayude Varthamanam, Mayatha Varakal, and Nervara.

SPORTS:

Peter Gilchrist won the 2019 Pacific International Billiards Championship

• Peter Gilchrist won the 2019 Pacific International Billiards Championship at the Yarraville Club in Melbourne, Australia. Peter Gilchrist defeated Kolkata cueist Kothari who had been on a roll winning the International Reventon Classic Snooker championship, a triple crown event of Australia and thereafter went on to display some outstanding billiards en-route the final.

Peter Gilchrist:

• Peter Gilchrist is an English-born Singaporean English billiards player. He has won the WPBSA World Championships in 1994, 2001 and in 2013.

• He has also represented Singapore in the SEA Games in 2009, where he won Gold for English Billiards Singles, and Bronze for the doubles.

• He also set the world record for highest break in billiards (1346) under modern rules, at the New Zealand Open Billiards Championships.

• In 2014, he scored his second 1000 break at the World Billiards Irish Open. He is the only player of the modern era who scored more than one 1000 points in tournament break.

NATIONAL:

ISRO unveiled plan to set up its own space station in seven years

• ISRO disclosed arrangement to set up its own space station in seven years. ISRO is to set up a little and a different space station. It won't be a piece of the International Space Station (ISS). The venture will be an augmentation of the Gaganyaan mission, which intends to send an Indian team to space in 2022.

• The heaviness of the space station will associate with 20 tons. ISRO's proposition will be sent to the legislature for endorsement by 2022 after the first Gaganyaan mission. the mission is taking a gander at 5-7 years to execute the program. The expense of the proposed space station was not unveiled.

• The International Space Station (ISS) is an association between European Space Agency, the United States (NASA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and Russia (Roscosmos). It is the world's biggest global helpful program in science and technology.hina likewise plans to construct its very own space station.

YSRs Tammineni Sitaram took charge as Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly

• The principal session of the fifteenth Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly as the senior chief of YSR Congress Party Tammineni Sitaram consistently chose as the Speaker of the Assembly. Boss Minister Y. S.

• Jagan Mohan Reddy praised Tammineni spoke to secure the parliamentary majority rules system.

• The fifteenth Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly's first session favored by the administration with chose lawmakers being controlled the promise of confirmation Protem Speaker S. Appala Naidu led the race for the arrangement of the Speaker which was proposed by 30 MLAs of YSRCP. Boss Minister experienced 23 MLA's and 3 MPs to surrender from YSRCP to the decision TDP.

About Tammineni Sitaram :

She is the fourth speaker of the gathering from Srikakulam area. Sitaram began his political vocation from TDP a six-time MLA from Srikakulam region's Amadalavalasa.

INTERNATIONAL:

New app to help students wishing to study in U.S

• EducationUSA launched an app in collaboration with the United States India Educational FoundationThe app is available on both Android and iOS platforms for free.The US embassy launched a mobile application that gives comprehensive and latest information about studying in the United States.

• The main aim is at students who may not be geographically centred in India

It helps students with information about studying in the country.The app EducationUSA launched in collaboration with the United States India Educational Foundation

• It is available on both Android and iOS platforms for free.

• The app act as the first point of information for students, parents, school counsellors and other interested users.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

Author Amitav Ghosh was conferred the 54th Jnanpith Award

• Author Amitav Ghosh was presented the 54th Jnanpith Award. He was granted for his commitment to the improvement of Indian writing in English at a service. The honor was introduced by the previous legislative leader of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi in New Delhi on 13 June. Amitav Ghosh is the principal English essayist to get this lofty Jnanpith Award

• Amitav Ghosh:  Amitav Ghosh is an Indian author. He is best known for his work in English fiction. In 2007, the administration of India granted him the regular citizen respect of Padma Shri. He likewise got the Israeli Dan David Prize, together with Margaret Atwood.

• His works and grants:  His book, The Circle of Reason won the Prix Médicis étranger which is France's top scholarly honors. His work 'The Calcutta Chromosome' won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for 1997. Additionally, his work 'Ocean of Poppies' was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. The book 'Stream of Smoke' was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize 2011.

Priyanka Chopra to be honoured with humanitarian award by UNICEF

• Indian actress Priyanka Chopra with the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)Snowflake Ball in the month of December.

• The event will be held on December 3 in New York.She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.She visited Ethiopia last month.She is known for her contribution to social causes .She will raise her voice for children’s education.

• India to raise awareness against child welfare.She is also to improve the education, health and safety of girl child in India.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

SEBI introduced enhanced disclosure guidelines for credit rating agencies

• The business sectors controller Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) presented upgraded revelation rules for FICO score offices (CRA). SEBI asked the rating organizations to reveal the likelihood of default for the backers they rate, agitated by the raters' reputation of distinguishing defaults or close defaults.

•  Explanation behind the move: Since the worldwide money related emergency in 2008, the validity of the rating organizations has been disintegrating a direct result of the irreconcilable circumstance that emerges from the way that they are paid by the guarantors to rate their protections and for their inability to minimization beset firms until they are very nearly chapter 11.

• The ongoing Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd's (IL&FS) liquidity emergency among non-bank loan specialists in India has concentrated consideration again using a credit card rating offices.

DAYS:

World Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14

• The day is celebrated to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors. The theme is - Blood Donation and Universal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion

• The main aim is to use as a component of achieving universal health coverage. The theme encourages more people all over the world to become blood donors and donate blood regularly. It is an important occasion for all governments, national health authorities and national blood services to provide adequate infrastructures to increase collection of blood from regular unpaid blood donors.

• It helps to mobilize support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes. Blood is treating the wounded during emergencies like natural disasters, accidents and armed conflicts.

It is essential, life-saving role in maternal care.

About World Blood Donor Day

•  Countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

•  Date: Friday, 14 June 2019

•  Observed by: All member states of the World Health Organization

SPORTS:

Indian team for Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships announced

• Gymnastics Federation of India declared the Indian group for the Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships It is to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from June 19 to 22.

• The four men and four ladies senior gymnasts chose for the esteemed competition after Sports Authority of India (SAI) consented to GFI's proposition of holding open preliminaries at IG Stadium. Men group includes Rakesh Kumar Patra (rings and parallel bars), Yogeshwar Singh (floor and vault), Debang Dey (wallop pony) and Arik Dey (level bar).

• Pranati Nayak (vault and pillar), Shraddha Talekar (uneven bars), Pranati Das (shaft) and Papiya Das (floor) are the ladies' cooperative individuals,. The Championships will be International introduction for Debang Dey in men's classification Papiya Das in ladies' area classification.

• This challenge likewise be critical introduction to the Gymnasts preceding the 2019 World Championships. It is the fitting the bill for the 2020 Olympics.

NATIONAL:

GST council to introduce new GST return system.

• GST Council decided to introduce a new GST return system to facilitate taxpayers.

The new plan is worked out to ease the transition to the new return system.

•  A prototype of the offline tool has already been shared on the common portal to give the look and feel of the tool to the users.

The tool is the same as that of the online portal.

There are three main components to the new return

one main return (FORM GST RET-1) and two annexures (FORM GST ANX-1 and FORM GST ANX-2).

The new return system (ANX-1 & ANX-2 only) will be available for trial for taxpayers to make themselves familiar.

About GST Council

•  GST Council decided to introduce a new GST return system to facilitate taxpayers.

A plan has been worked out to ease the transition to the new return system.

A prototype of the offline tool already shared on the common portal to give the look and feel of the tool to the users.

Cabinet approved the setting up of Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO).

• The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO), a new agency, which will develop sophisticated weapon systems. The approval aimed to To enhance the capabilities of the armed forces to fight wars in space.

Members of DSRO:

The agency will be headed by a Joint Secretary-level scientist. DSRO would constitute a team of scientists which would be working in close coordination with the tri-services integrated Defence staff officers.

Functions of DSRO:

DSRO will be entrusted with the task of creating space warfare weapon systems and technologies.

It would provide the research and development support to the Defence Space Agency (DSA).

About DSA:

Defence Space Agency (DSA)will constitute of members from the three services. The aim of setting up of DSA is to help the country fight wars in the space.

DSA is being set up under an Air Vice Marshal-rank officer in Bengaluru. It will be gradually taking over the space-related capabilities of the three forces.

ICAT released India’s 1st BS VI Certificate in Two Wheeler Segment.

• International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) released India’s first Type Approval Certificate (TAC) for Bharat Stage - VI (BS – VI) norms for the two-wheeler segment in New Delhi.

The certificate released and handed over by Director ICAT, Dinesh Tyagi to top officials of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers). India’s first certification in the two-wheeler segment for the BS – VI

• They are the latest emission norms as notified by the Government of India.

• Norms of the ICAT - India’s 1st BS – VI Certificate in Two Wheeler Segment

The ICAT drive through many steps in providing assistance and support to the automotive industry for the development, optimization and calibration of engines and vehicles for complying with these upcoming emission norms.Bharat Stage norms are the automotive emission norms which the automotive manufacturers have to comply to sell their vehicles in India.

The norms are applicable to all two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers.

The Government of India decided to leapfrog from the exiting BS – IV norms to the BS- VI, thereby skipping the BS – V norms.

They are to be effective from 1st April 2020.

The vehicles will be sold and registered in India from 1st April 2020 onwards which comply to these norms. The norms are stringent and at par with global standards.I issued the approval for BS –VI norms to M/s Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles for the Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment. It is the first in its segment in India.

About ICAT

It is the testing agency authorized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for providing testing and certification services to vehicle and the components vehicles in India.

It has the latest equipment, facilities, and capabilities to develop, validate, test and certify the engines and vehicles for the latest norms in the field of emission and many other facilities like crash lab, NVH lab, EMC lab and test tracks.

INTERNATIONAL:

Amazon clinches top spot in the world's most valuable brand ranking.

• Amazon clinched the world’s most valuable brand in cloud computing, consumer tech and movie production.

It is founded by the world’s richest man Jeff Bezos.

According to the 2019 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands rankings, Amazon online retailer set its brand value quintuple in the past five years to reach $315.5billion.

It is undertaken annually by advertising holding company WPP.

The detailed study of Brand Z reveals firms financial data and draws on an extensive consumer survey to reach its conclusions.

Amazon expanded into grocery, healthcare, food delivery and, with its Alexa devices, even voice recognition. Amazon jumped from third to first place to eclipse Google.The brand of Amazon from 52 percent to $315 billion.

The company jumped from third place to first place and got the third position to topmost by replacing Google.

About Financial Market

• There are two online shopping namely Alibaba and JD.com Chinese website which are down its Chinese e-commerce operation. Huawei company got a sudden break down of telecom network equipment and smartphone maker poses security and spying risks. Huawei added 8 percent to its brand value in the past year to reach $26.9bn.Netflix was third among the global market and they obtained 65% to obtain its brand value of 34.3 billion.

About Amazon

Founder: Jeff Bezos

Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Services: Amazon.com, Amazon Alexa, Amazon Appstore, Amazon MusicAmazon PrimeAmazon Video

Revenue: US$232.887 billion - 2018

AGREEMENTS AND MOU’s:

NDMA conducts training programme for CBRN emergencies at Kandla Port.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is conducting a basic training programme at the Deendayal  Port Trust in Kandla, Gujarat. The five-day training programme, aimed at increasing the awareness and enhancing the preparedness of Seaport Emergency Handlers (SEHs) to respond to CBRN emergencies at the seaports, started on June 10, 2019.

• This is the fourth in a series of such programmes that will be conducted at various seaports across the country to enable SEHs to respond suitably till the arrival of specialised response teams. Earlier this year, three batches of SEHs were trained at Mangalore, Kochi and Navi Mumbai.

• CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) threats emanate at seaports due to arrival, storage and transportation of a large amount of chemical, petrochemical and other CBRN agents.

• The training programme is being conducted in collaboration with the Indian Ports Association (IPA), Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). This training programme will improve the CBRN safety at our seaports by enabling the SEHs to handle any CBRN emergency.

• The programme consists of lectures as well as field training, including live demonstrations of detection and decontamination including use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and mock exercises. Besides equipping the SEHs to handle CBRN emergencies, the training programme will also enable them to provide medical first aid and initial psycho-social support.

• Experts from stakeholder departments such as Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will train the participants.

• Around 50 participants representing various agencies responsible for operation and maintenance of the seaport are being trained on various aspects of CBRN emergencies. Another 200 working level staff will be sensitized on the subject in a half-day programme.

BANKS AND ECONOMICS:

RBI to infuse Rs.15,000 crore into financial system through the purchase of government bonds.

• The Reserve Bank of India is to infuse Rs.15,000 crore into the financial system through bond purchases on June 13.

Why the infusion:

RBI made the decision after assessing of prevailing liquidity conditions and also of the durable liquidity needs that are going forward.

RBI uses Open Market Operations (OMO) for injecting liquidity into the system through the purchase of government bonds (G-sec). Therefore, RBI is to conduct the purchase of  six G-sec under OMOs through multi-security auction using multiple price method.

What is G-Sec?

A government security (G-Sec) is a debt obligation of the Indian government to fund their fiscal deficit. The securities are tradable. G-sec is  issued either by the central or the state government. They are offered for short term as well as long term.

Multiple price-auction

In a multiple price-auction each successful bidder should pay the price stated bu the player himself. But, in case of uniform price auctions, all successful bidders should pay the cut-off price, that is, the same price at which the market clears the issue.

Open Market Operations:

Open market operations (OMO) refers to the buying and selling of government securities by the central bank, RBI in case of India, in the open market in order to contract or expand the amount of money in the banking system. The purchase of the securities will inject money into the banking system and stimulate growth, while sales of securities do the opposite and contract the economy.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

IV Subba Rao continues as secretary to Vice President.

• IV Subba Rao continues as secretary to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu as per an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the continuation of Rao

He is a retired IAS officer

He serves as secretary to the vice president on a contract basis

More about IV Subba Rao

He is a 1979 batch IAS officer

He belongs to Andhra Pradesh, Rao

He is retired from service in August 2015.

Tokayev sworn in as the President of Kazakhstan.

• Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has sworn in as the President of Kazakhstan. He was the interim president and hand-picked successor of Nursultan Nazarbayev. He won the election, which was held on 9 June, with 70.96% of the vote which was contested against six government-approved candidates.

Tokayev presidency aims to continue Nazarbayev’s policies aimed at improving the well-being of the people. He succeeded Nursultan Nazarbayev, who announced his resignation in March after 30 years in power.

This is the first time Kazakhstan gets its new president since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

BJP MP Virendra Kumar to be pro-tem speaker of Lok Sabha.

• Virendra Kumar, a seven-time MP from Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh chosen as the pro tem speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha.

• He was MoS in the ministry of women and child development He was also in the minority affairs ministry in the previous government.

• He is likely to be administered the oath of office at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 17, the day where newly elected Lok Sabha commences its first session.

• On the first two days, the new MPs will take the oath.

• The election for the speaker will be on June 19.

• He was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996.

• He became a member of the Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare.

• He served as a member and chairman of various committees.

• He studied a Ph.D. started his political career in 1977

• He became the convener of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.

• He served a prison sentence of 16 months under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) in protest against the imposition of Emergency when he was associated with RSS.

• He was a minister of state in the previous Modi government.

 Definition of Pro Term Speaker:

• After the general election and formation of a new government, a list of senior Lok Sabha members prepared by the Legislative Section is submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

• He who selects a pro tem speaker.

• The appointment should be approved by the President.

Mekathoti Sucharitha appointed as the Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

• Sucharitha, A Dalit Women was inducted into the Congress by the late Dr Y S Rajashekara Reddy (YSR) spotted her during his historic ‘padayatra’ in 2003.

• Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy appointed Mekathoti Sucharita as the state home minister

• She is one among five ministers to be selected from SC community

• Her native is Poondla village near Bapatla and completed her studies at Phirangipuram, where her father was practising as a doctor.

• She vowed to maintain the highest standards of integrity and honesty in public life and thanked Chief Minister for reposing faith in her and promised that she would live up to the expectations.

About Y S Gagan Mohan Reddy

• Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy, is an Indian politician

• He is serving as the 17th and current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

• Party: YSR Congress Party

About Andhra Pradesh

• Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy (YSR Congress Party)

• Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan

DAYS:

International Day Against Child Labour observed on June 12.

• International Labour Organization (ILO) started to celebrate World Day Against Child Labour in 2002

Aim: To focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.

The 2019 theme is Children shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams!

The day brings government employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015 to include a renewed global commitment to ending child labour.

Sustainable Development Goals and effective measures are take-ups in order to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour includes use of child labours by the year 2025 and to end child labour in all its forms.

ILO celebrates 100 years of advancing social justice.

The protection of children embedded in the ILO’s Constitution (Preamble). One of the first Conventions adopted by the ILO was on Minimum Age in Industry (No. 5, 1919).

8.7 target set by the international community calling for an end to child labour in all its forms by 2025.

About World Day Against Child Labour

Observances: UN, International Labour Organization

Frequency: annual

Called as: WDACL

Observed by: UN Members

SPORTS:

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) re-branded as World Athletics.

• The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the international governing body for the sport of athletics, changed it name from IAAF to World Athletics. The members of IAAF council have approved the rebranding at an IAAF Council meeting held in Monaco on 8th June. The process to rebrand IAAF began on January 2018.

Purpose:

The new name and logo has been designed to represent the modern and positive face for athletics. Also, it aims to attract theyounger audience.

It will see the organisation take on its new name and a re-designed logo after the 2019 World Athletics Championship in Doha in October.

From the Origin:

IAAF was formed in 17 July 1912. When it was founded the name it had was International Amateur Athletic Federation. It was then changed to International Association of Athletics Federations in 2001.

The headquarters of IAAF is located in Monaco. IAAF has 215 member federations. The Current President of IAAF is Sebastian Coe. The CEO of IAAF is Jon Ridgeon.

NATIONAL:

MoSPI has proposed to set up a National Data Warehouse to leverage big data analytical tools.

• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed to set up a National Data Warehouse with an aim to leveraging big data analytical tools. This move is to further improve the quality of macro-economic aggregates. MoSPI also plans to introduce a legislative framework so that the National Statistical Commission (NSC) can function with independence and give holistic guidance for improving the national statistical system.

Significance:

• The move also lends its support to the system reforms that are currently ongoing. It will also ensure the responsiveness to the changing needs of society that are necessary.

• This proposed set up is necessary as there are increasing demands on the statistical system for the production of relevant and quality statistics.

National Data Warehouse for macro-economic aggregate:

• The Ministry also proposed to establish a National Data Warehouse on Official Statistics. Here, the technology will be leveraged for using big data analytical tools for further improving the quality of macro-economic aggregates.

• MoSPI has been criticized in some sections for the quality of macro-economic data.

Merger of merger of CSO and NSSO:

• Regarding this the government has recently merged the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to streamline and strengthen the statistical system. The merger leveraged the strengths of the two organisations so that it can meet the increasing demands.

• The government use the statistical data to revise the GDP estimate would require concomitant changes in the sectoral data flows and associated regulatory framework in the data source agencies to facilitate the use of more macro modelling techniques.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI):

Established on: 15 October 1999

Minister responsible: Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge)

It has 2 wings:

1)Department of Statistics

2)Department of Programme Implementation

• It is responsible for the development of the statistical system and maintains norms and standards in the field of statistics that involves concepts and definitions, methodology of data collection, processing of data and dissemination of results.

• MoSPI is concerned with coverage and quality aspects of statistics.

ASI declares Chaukhandi Stupa as of national important monument.

• A Monument and protected area of national importance by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Chaukhandi Stupa:

• Chaukhandi Stupa is a lofty mound of brick whose square edifice is surrounded by an octagonal tower. It was built to mark the place where Lord Buddha met his first disciples as he traveled from Bodhgaya to Sarnath.

• The Chaukhandi Stupa is said to be originally a terraced temple during the Gupta period, that • 4th to 6th Century.

• Govardhan,the son of Raja Todarmal gave the present shape to the Chaukhandi Stupa.He built an octagonal tower to commemorate the visit of Humayun,the great Mughal ruler.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):

• ASI was formed on 1861, headquartered at New Delhi, India. ASI is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage in India. It functions under the Ministry of Culture.

• ASI is responsible for the regulation of all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and Antiquities and Art Treasure Act,1972.

India's First Dinosaur Museum Park inaugurated in Gujarat

• Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated India's first Dinosaur-Museum-cum-Park in the Mahisagar district.

• It is set to give visitors a Jurassic Park kind of feel.

The museum is located in Raiyoli area in Balasinor exhibit remains of various dinosaurs and fossil records.

• Dinosaur Museum cum Park is the first park in the country and the world's third park.

Raiyoli area is the third largest dinosaur fossil site in the world and it is also the second largest dinosaur hatchery in the world, where thousands of eggs had been found.

About Dinosaur-Museum-cum-Park

• It is equipped with modern technology like 3D projection, virtual reality presentations, interactive kiosks and life-size dinosaur replicas.

• It has a total land area of 2.63 hectares. It is famous for displaying the evolution of dinosaurs on earth and probable reasons for their extinction.

It is a world-class tourism spot and prove useful to students as well as experts.

About Gujarat

Capital: Gandhinagar

Governor: Om Prakash Kohli

Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani

INTERNATIONAL:

Canada to ban single use plastics from 2021.

• Canada ban single-use plastics from the year 2021

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau planned to ban plastic bottles, straws and plastic bags clogging the world's oceans.

• Canada to lead to fighting against plastic pollution as the country with the world's longest coastline.

• Currently, 10 percent of plastics are recycled.

• A  million birds and more than 100,000 marine mammals worldwide suffer injury or death through the food chain.

• Plastic Straws, plastic bags, cutlery, plates among the items.

Around 180 countries reached a deal to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the world's oceans.

• Marine animals can become entangled in larger plastics - particularly cord, nets, and ropes from fishing.

Canadian government planned to decide single-use plastic products included ban of plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates and stir sticks.

•  Around 3m tonnes of plastic waste thrown away each year at Canada.

About Canada

Capital: Ottawa

Governor General: Julie Payette

Prime Minister: Justin Trudeau

Singapore topped the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2019.

• Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking 2019 said Singapore has dethroned the US to become the most competitive economy in the world. Hong Kong stands second spot in the list. USA stands third followed by Switzerland and UAEand fourth and fifth respectively.

• Qatar entered the top 10. India ranked 43, one position higher compared to 2018.

Parameters considered:

• The ranking process considers a wide range of hard statistics such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment and government spending on health and education. IMD also used the soft data from an Executive Opinion Survey which covers other parameters such as social cohesion, globalization and corruption.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU’s:

PM Narendra Modi to meet Putin and Xi Jinping in sidelines to SCO summit.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Its a reiteration:

• Prime Minister Modi is to reiterate his invite to President Xi to visit India for an informal summit in 2019. The first informal summit was held in Wuhan in 2018.

• The Ministry did not approve to hold a separate meeting between the Prime Minister with his counterpart from Pakistan, Imran Khan.

SCO Summit 2019:

• The SCO summit is to be held on June 14 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. It will be the first multilateral meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his re-election in the Lok Sabha election.

• The group will discuss issues related to terrorism, Afghanistan, regional security, multilateral dialogue and global scenario.

BANKS AND ECONOMICS:

State Bank of India introduces Repo Rate-Linked Home Loan.

• State Bank of India introduced repo rate-linked home loans.

SBI, the country's largest bank by assets home loans linked to the repo rate from July 1, 2019.

• There are 10 key new facts, repo rate-linked SBI home loan:

Key interest rate reduced to 5.75

Repo rate-linked home loan will make changes in the key interest rate by the central bank would be passed on directly to the customers.

Interest rates applicable to regular home loans are decided by the commercial banks on a time basis.

The Reserve Bank of India on several occasions in the past few months urged the commercial banks to transmit the rate cuts to the public.

State Bank of India benefit from the latest reduction in the repo rate has been passed fully to cash credit account and overdraft customers with limits of over Rs. 1 lakh.

After the move, the effective repo-linked lending rate (RLLR) for a cash credit and overdraft customers will be 8 percent. These changes will also take effect on July 1.

• The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)lowered the repo rate by 25 basis points and switched to an "accommodative" stance from "neutral".

• The decision by the RBI to ease the monetary policy follows official data last month showing India lost its status as the fastest growing major economy to China.

RBI reduced the repo rate each in its policy reviews in February and April.

SBI has a share of around 35 percent in home loans and auto loans.

SPORTS:

Haryana, Maharashtra dominate third day of Youth men's & women's national boxing championship.

• Haryana and Maharashtra participated in the  third day of the 3rd Youth men's and women's national boxing championship in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand

Four boxers from Maharashtra entered the quarterfinals

Ankit Narwal-led Haryana boxers reached the last-eight stage.

Narwal, the 2018 Youth Asian Championship bronze winner in men's 60kg category

Haryana's Akshay Kumar won the game in the same way.

In the women's category, Haryana's Bharti and Poonam and  Bharti registered a hard-fought 3-2 win over Ekta Saroj of Punjab in which went down to the wire, while Poonam got the better of Assamese boxer Kimpa Boro.

Women's boxing between Manipur's Babyrojisana Chanu and Kerala's Aishwarya Raj PT 51kg category.

About Women's national boxing championship

AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships was held at KD Jadav Indoor Stadium at New Delhi, India

The event took place between 15 and 24 November 2018.

In the finals Mary Kom of India beat Ukrainian boxer Hana Okhota to win the gold,

She is the first woman boxer to win six gold medals in the AIBA World Boxing Championships

India debut flag in #WorldRaftingChampionship.

• India is making debut in the adventurous game of Rafting.

Former Prime Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports team played in World Rafting Championship which is taking place in Tuncelli.

There are 20 teams from 20 countries are challenging for the title.

President of Turkish Rafting Federation Fikret Yadimei expressed his excitement over hosting the World Rafting Championship.

The championship commenced on June 8 and will conclude on June 13.

About  International Rafting Federation

•It is the official umbrella International Sports Federation for national rafting organizations worldwide and administers all aspects of rafting sport worldwide.

•World Rafting Championships (WRC), European Rafting Championships (ERC), Pan American Rafting Championships, and the Euro Cup rafting series are governed by the IRF.

• It works closely with national organizations and government bodies by offering the only raft guide certification program accepted worldwide

Lewis Hamilton Won Canadian Grand Prix 2019.

• Lewis Hamilton won Canadian Grand Prix , the world of Formula One championship title 2019.

Lewis Hamilton, Robert Kubica and Daniel Ricciardo players who played various matches in championship and considered as star players.

• Hamilton won 78th career win in Formula One .

• He also fifth out of the seven races contested this season

• He secured seventh win at the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix and defeated Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

About Canadian Grand Prix

Canadian Grand Prix is an annual auto race held in Canada since 1961.It is a part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967

First held :1961

Number of times held: 56

Most wins : Germany Michael Schumacher , Lewis Hamilton

About Lewis Hamilton

Nationality: United Kingdom

Entries: 236

Championships: 5 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018)

Win: 78

Rafael Nadal clinched the 12th French Open title by defeating Dominic Thiem.

• World number two Rafael Nadal clinched the 12th French Open title in 15 years in men's single category held in Roland Garros Stadium, France.

• He defeated world number four Dominic Thiem in the men's singles. The Spaniard won the match with a scoreline of 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. The 33-year-old has now won 18 Grand Slam titles, two fewer than world number three Roger Federer.

• The champions of the 2019 French Open

• Men's Singles: Spain Rafael Nadal

• Women's Singles: Australia Ashleigh Barty

• Men's Doubles: Germany Kevin Krawietz / Germany Andreas Mies

• Women's Doubles: Hungary Tímea Babos / France Kristina Mladenovic

• Mixed Doubles: Chinese Taipei Latisha Chan / Croatia Ivan Dodig

2019 French Open:

• The 2019 French Open was held from 26th May-9th June

• Edition: 123rd

• Category: Grand Slam tournament

• Prize money: €42,661,000

• Surface: Clay

• Held at: Roland Garros Stadium, France.

NATIONAL:

India partners with Portugal to set up a national maritime heritage museum at Lothal.

• India has partnered with Portugal to set up a national maritime heritage museum at Lothal in Gujarat.The Indian Navy will be the stakeholder in the project and the Portuguese Navy will assist as they have experience in it by administering the maritime museum in Lisbon, Portugal. India is to follow a similar model of the maritime museum.

Implementation of the project:

• In March 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project and the Government of India has allocated a grant for building the maritime museum.

• The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Shipping through its Sagarmala programme. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) along with the State government and other stakeholders is also involved in setting up the museum.

Partnership and plans:

• The initial discussion about the partnership was held during the visit of Portuguese Defence Minister João Gomes Cravinho to India in April 2019. A Defence Ministry-led delegation will visit Portugal to study the existing museum.

Maritime museum:

• A maritime museum is a museum that specializes in display the objects relating to ships and travel on large bodies of water. A subcategory of maritime museums are naval museums, which focus on navies and the military use of the sea.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU’s:

The G20 Summit ended with the issual of joint statement on trade and the digital economy.

• In the G20 Summit, the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the Group of 20 economies issued a joint statement on trade and the digital economy. The meeting was held inTsukuba, Japan on 8 and 9 June 2019.

Aim:

• The G20 Summit was focused on the ways to promote trade and cooperation among the G20 countries in order to harness the potential of the digital economy.

New tax rules:

• The Finance Ministers discussed new tax rules on global IT giants as well as the impact of aging populations on the economy as the corporate sector make huge profits through cross-border data transfers.

• Global growth is being stable and is expected to pick up moderately by late 2019 and into 2020. However, growth remains low and risks remain tilted to the downside as trade and geopolitical tensions have been intensified.

Agreements:

• The Ministers confirmed their commitment to refraining from competitive currency devaluations in order to gain an unfair trade advantage.

• They also agreed on guiding principles for using artificial intelligence which is created on the 36-member OECD and an additional six countries. They also planned to highlight divisions over trade issues such as reform of the World Trade Organization.

SEBI signed MoU with MCA to facilitate the sharing of data and information for regulatory purposes.

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).

Aim:

• The MoU will ensure that both the MCA and the SEBI have seamless linkage for regulatory purposes and in addition to regular exchange of data. It also aims to facilitate the continous sharing of data and information for carrying out scrutiny, inspection, investigation, and prosecution.

Benefits:

• The MoU will facilitate the sharing of data and information between SEBI and the MCA on an automatic and regular basis. It will also enable sharing of specific information such as details of suspended companies, delisted firms, shareholding pattern from the SEBI and financial statements filed with the Registrar by corporates, returns of allotment of shares and audit reports relating to corporates.

• The MCA has the database of all registered firms whereas the SEBI only regulates listed entities that may have unlisted subsidiaries. The MCA alone has access to all the data of such unlisted entities.

• The data exchange status will be reviewed and analyzed by a Data Exchange Steering Group which will meet and review periodically.

Significance:

• The move comes after the view to increase the need for surveillance in the context of corporate frauds which affects important sectors of the economy. It is a known fact that the private sector plays an increasingly vital role in economic growth, the need for a robust corporate governance mechanism becomes the need of the hour.

• Already there exists a protocol of sharing of data between SEBI and MCA, in many cases, the regulator has also sent its orders against various entities to the MCA for further action.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):

Formed: April 12, 1988

Acquired Statutory Status on: January 30, 1992

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Chairman: Ajay Tyagi

Executive Director: Anand Rajeshwar Baiwar

SEBI is the regulator for the securities market in India

India signs six key agreements with the Maldives.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Maldives on 8 June. PM's visit to the Maldives reflects the importance India attaches to its Neighbourhood First policy. 

Highlights:

• During his visit, PM Narendra Modi and the President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih signed six key agreements and substantive bilateral level talks.

• MoU includes maritime and defence ties which are a top priority and the radar system are expected to boost maritime security.

• The leaders jointly inaugurated a coastal surveillance radar system and a composite training centre for the Maldives defence forces.

• Launch of RuPay Card in the Maldives was welcomed by PM Modi as it will give a boost to tourism in the island nation.

The six agreements include:

• cooperation in the field of hydrography

• cooperation in the field of health

• customs capacity building between the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Customs of India and the Maldives Customs Service

• the establishment of passenger and cargo services by sea

• training and Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian civil servants Maldives Civil Service Commission signed with India's National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) with the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances

• sharing white shipping information between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force

Previous agreements:

In March 2019, India and Maldives signed an $800-million Line of Credit Agreement with an aim to assist the Maldives in achieving sustainable social and economic development.

Maldives:

President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

Vice President: Faisal Naseem

Capital: Malé

Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR)

Official languages: English, Dhivehi

SPORTS:

Japan defeat Mexico and won FIH Hockey Series.

• International Hockey Federation (IHF) conducted Men's Hockey Series.

• The Final match is played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar

• Japan defeated Mexico by a goal 3 - 1.

About International Hockey Federation (FIH)

• Founded: 7 January 1924

• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland

• Membership: 137 national associations

• Motto: FairPlay Friendship Forever

• President: Narinder Batra

• CEO: Thierry Weil

About Japan

• Capital: Tokyo

• Currency: Japanese yen

• Prime minister: Shinzō Abe Trending

NATIONAL:

Karnataka government has launched Pink Sarathi vehicles for womens safety.

• Karnataka government has launched ‘Pink Sarathi’ vehicles that are procured by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). It was launched by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. BMTC will use the vehicles to attend to the grievances of women passengers in city buses.

• MTC had received Rs.56.07 crore from the Centre under the Nirbhaya scheme. It has also taken up various measures for the safety of women passengers, including the launch of Pink Sarathi vehicles. The BMTC now has a fleet of 25 Pink Sarathi vehicles fitted with GPS and public announcement systems.  

• The safety of female passengers will be a priority. It will also take on other tasks such as manning traffic movement at bus bays making sure that drivers stop at the designated stops, taking action against bus crew when they fail to close the door once the vehicle is in motion, and ensuring that men are not occupying seats reserved for women.

BANKS AND ECONOMICS:

ICICI Bank launches centre for MSMEs in Bengaluru.

• ICICI Bank launched a centre in Bengaluru to provide business solutions exclusively to start-ups and MSME sector.

• ICICI Bank along with Viral Rupani, Retail Business Head South, ICICI Bank inaugurated the centre.

• The services offered include working capital loans upto ₹20 crore, business loans (based on GST returns) upto ₹1 crore, instant overdraft facility of ₹15 lakh, extensive trade solutions and cash management services, among others.

• The centre has a legal and valuation desk to assist customers in resolving challenges pertaining to collaterals offered for various loans.

About ICICI Bank

Industry: Banking, Financial services

Headquarters: ICICI Bank Towers, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, India

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

J&K Bank Chairman removed over governance concerns.

• The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday removed J&K Bank's Chairman Parvez Ahmed due to concerns over the bank's governance and functioning. Ahmed, whose tenure was set to end in five months, is reportedly facing allegations of corruption, nepotism and favouritism. The J&K Anti Corruption Bureau raided the premises of J&K Bank's headquarters hours after his removal.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra is appointed as IMD Chief.

• Renowned scientist and cyclone warning specialist Mrutyunjay Mohapatra was appointed as the Chief of India Meteorological Department (IMD). His is popularly known as Cyclone man. He will take charge in the month of August.

• Mohapatra and his team at the Cyclone Warning Division (CWD) of the IMD are noted for their accurate forecasts on cyclones which have enabled the authorities to ensure early evacuation of millions of people eventually saving many lives. In the past six years, the CWD has given accurate forecasts on cyclones including when Phailin in 2013), Hudhud cyclone in 2014 and Titli in 2018 that hit the eastern coast.

India Meteorological Department

Formed on: 1875

Headquarters: New Delhi

Functions under: Ministry of Earth Sciences

Minister responsible: Harsh Vardhan

Director General: K.J. Ramesh

•  The IMD is responsible for the weather and climate-related forecasts in the country. It is also mandated to issue warning to people about severe weather phenomenon like cyclones, dust storms, heavy rain and snow, cold and heat waves, among others.

Ajeya Kallam appointed principal advisor to Andhra Chief Minister.

• Former Chief Secretary Ajeya Kallam appointed as the principal advisor to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

• It was issued by Chief Secretary LV Subrahmanyam.

• He will have cabinet rank and leading the secretaries in the Chief Minister's office.

• He will be in the position for 3 years, with a monthly salary of Rs 2.5 lakhs.

• He served as director of horticulture, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of endowments, executive officer of the TTD, and as Visakhapatnam Port Trust chairman.

SPORTS:

India beats Ireland 1-0 in the final to claim U21 four-nation title.

• Indian junior women's hockey team won Cantor Fitzgerald U21 International 4-Nations title after beating Ireland 1-0 in the final

• India ended the tournament three goals in four games, Mumtaz Khan finished as the highest goal scorer of the tournament.

• The second quarter of the game created a new record over it.

• Ireland created three PCs over the period of the final quarter was thwarted by a resolute Bichu Devi and the Indian defense to ensure that the team ended up with a clean sheet.

• Gagandeep's goal major difference between the sides, as India prevailed 1-0 and took the title.

NATIONAL:

CM Yogi Adityanath unveiled a 7 foot tall statue of Lord Rama at the Shodh Sansthan museum.

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled a 7-foot tall statue of Lord Rama at the Shodh Sansthan museum in Ayodhya on 7 June. Adityanath will also inaugurate the event to celebrate Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.

Ram Statue:

• The statue is made out of a single rosewood block statue which was from Karnataka for Rs.35 lakh from Karnataka. The statue will depict Kodamb Ram, one of the five avatars of Lord Ram.

• Kodamb Ram is worshipped in the south. The statue depicts the stage of Ram's life when Sita was kidnapped by Ravan, the demon king. The statue shows Ram alone, without Sita and Laxman.

Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan:

• The Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan museum was established in 1986. The museum is a government-funded museum. It hosts works related to the Hindu epic Ramayana.

The Dispute:

• Lord Ram is said to have been born in Ayodhya. Ayodhya is at the heart of a dispute which involves the site where the 16th-century Babri mosque stood before it was razed in 1992 by Hindu activists. It is believed that it was built on the ruins of an ancient temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram. After the mosque demolition, 2,000 people died across the country in the riot.

• In 2018, the Uttar Pradesh State government announced a project to build a Ram statue on the banks of the Sarayu river. It is expected to measure 221 metres topping even the famed freedom movement icon Sardar Patel's Statue of Unity in Gujarat. The central government is yet to announce a date for the construction of Ram temple.

India Foreign Minister Jaishankar in Bhutan on his 1st bilateral visit.

• External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar reached Bhutan on June 7 on a two-day visit.

This is his first overseas trip after assuming charge of the Foreign ministry.

• During his visit, the two countries discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the upcoming high-level exchanges, economic development and hydro-power cooperation.

About Bhutan:

Capital: Thimphu

Currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum

King of Bhutan: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Prime Minister: Lotay Tshering

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel Takes Oath As New CJI Of Delhi High Court.

• Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel sworn in as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.

• Lt Governor Anil Baijal administered the oath of office to Justice Patel at a function held at Raj Niwas.

• Earlier, Justice Patel was posted at the Jharkhand High Court.

• Supreme Court Collegium recommended his name for the appointment as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court

About Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel

• Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel is an Indian Judge.

• He is Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.

• He is former Acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court and Judge of Gujarat High Court.

Uber COO and CMO step down a month after IPO fails.

• Uber confirmed on Friday that its Chief Operating Officer Barney Harford and Chief Marketing Officer Rebecca Messina will depart the company. This comes a month after Uber's IPO failed. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, who explained the departures in an email to employees, said that he wants to be even more involved in the day-to-day operations of the business.

DAYS:

World Oceans Day is celebrated on 8th June.

• World Oceans Day is celebrated on 8th June every year. The day was declared in 2008. June 8 was marked as it marks the day when it was first proposed in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit, UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Conference supported the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Theme 2019:

• The theme for the year 2019 is Gender and Oceans. The theme is to build greater ocean and gender literacy and to discover possible ways to promote gender equality in ocean-related activities such as marine scientific research, fisheries, labour at sea, migration by sea and human trafficking, as well as policy-making and management.

• The importance of gender equality is being recognized increasingly for the effective conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources. Yet very little data and researches are available on these issues. Serious action towards gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is still needed in all ocean-related sectors to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5.

Plastic Pollution:

• María Fernanda Espinosa, the President of the General Assembly launched Play It Out which is a global campaign against plastic pollution. Decades of overuse of single-use plastics has caused a huge menace to the marine lives. 13,000,000 tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean every year which kills 100,000 marine animals annually.

• While most plastics are expected to remain intact for decades or centuries after use. These plastics erode and ends up as micro-plastics, consumed by fish and other marine wildlife, quickly making their way into the global food chain.

AWARDS:

PM Modi awarded Maldives' highest honour for foreign dignitaries.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Saturday conferred the Maldives' highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries, 'The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen', during his visit to the island nation. PM Modi is visiting the Maldives as part of his first diplomatic foreign visit after he assumed office for a second term.

SPORTS:

England 1st team in ODI history to score seven 300+ totals in a row.

• England have become the first team in ODIs to score seven 300-plus totals in a row, achieving the feat against Bangladesh in 2019 World Cup on Saturday. England scored 386/6 in 50 overs, with Jason Roy top-scoring with 153 runs off 121 balls including 14 fours and 5 sixes. It is also England's highest ever total in World Cup history.

NATIONAL:

India-Marshall Islands tax data pact notified.

• The union government notified an agreement with the Marshall Islands a country of volcanic islands and coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, for the exchange of banking and company information for tax purposes.

• It comes under tax evasion and tax avoidance.

It is called as tax information exchange agreement (TIEA)

They allow mutual cooperation between the two countries by providing an effective framework for exchange of information in tax matters.

• The agreement (India-Marshall Islands TIEA) between the Indian government and the government of the Marshall Islands was signed on March 18, 2016, at Majuro, the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

• The bilateral agreement is based on international standards of tax transparency and exchange of information and enables the sharing of information on request.

Gujarat topped the country with annual fish production of 7.8 lakh tonnes.

• Gujarat topped the country with annual fish production of 7.8 lakh tonnes, followed by Tamil Nadu (7.02 lakh tonnes) and Kerala (6.43 lakh tonnes) according to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Tamil Nadu:

• Kanniyakumari topped in the Tamil Nadu state annual fish production.

• Ramanathapuram has emerged as the second topper in the Tamil Nadu state in annual fish production. It has recorded 1.46 lakh tonnes during 2018.

Nagapattinam stands third highest fish production district to have recorded 91,186 tonnes. Thoothukudi stands fourth by recording 70,965 tonnes followed by Cuddalore (62,525 tonnes) and Chennai (55,707 tonnes).

Report:

• The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) released the district wise marine fish landing data for the year 2018. The Fisheries Resources Assessment Division (FRAD) of CMFRI had collected random sampling data across the state and finalized the provisional figure. The data was collected by the fisheries department by employing the multi-stage cluster sampling method and the figures varied.

Fish export in 2018:

• While Cuttlefish (Cephalopods), prawns, Pomfrets, crabs, and fishes belonging to the family of Percidae were exported, the protein-rich Sardines and Anchovies were sold in the local markets.

• According to CMFRI report, the Fish production for the year 2018 was estimated at 3.49 million tonnes at the all India level.

Rajnath Singh to chair the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is to chair the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs in the second term of the NDA government. Decisions on all the parliament matters will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

• He is also a part of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, the all-important panel on political affairs which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All important political decisions in the ruling dispensation will be taken by the panel.

• Apart from these 4 committees, he is also a member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). In total, he is now a part of six key panels of the government.

• In the last government, Rajnath Singh headed the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan reviews status of Nipah Virus disease in New Delhi.

• Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviewed the status of Nipah Virus disease in New Delhi.

• A total of 316 contacts are being followed up on a daily basis.

• One positive case admitted in Ernakulam is now conscious and having a mild fever and six symptomatic contacts have been admitted in the quarantine facility at the Medical College and all the samples were found to be negative.

• A Sample from one symptomatic contact sent to NIV Lab.

• Strategic Health Operation Centre (SHOC) at NCDC has been activated and the activities are coordinated.

• 40 calls have been attended at SHOC- NCDC regarding Nipah information.

District Control Room has been set up in the Collector Office (Helpline No. 04842425200)

Joint Commissioner(Livestock Health) deployed two experts to Ernakulam, Kerala to support local Animal Husbandry Department in the investigation.

• On the basis of the epidemiological investigation, a team from NIV Pune and Animal Husbandry are investigating bats and other animals in the vicinity of his (confirmed case)residence during the possible time of transmission of infection.

About Nipah Virus

• It is a genus of RNA viruses belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae and order Mononegavirales containing five established species.

• Henipaviruses are naturally harbored by pteropid fruit bats and microbats of several species

Scientific name: Henipavirus

Rank: Genus

Higher classification: Paramyxoviridae.

INTERNATIONAL:

Taiwan proposed deal to buy tanks from the US.

• Taiwan plans to propose a deal to buy tanks and portable missiles from the U.S. This proposal by Taiwan drew an angry rebuke from China. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry requested the US for 108 M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, more than 1,500 Javelin and TOW anti-tank missiles, and 250 shoulder-fired Stinger anti-aircraft missiles in the proposal formally.

• The U.S. government, on the other hand, has given Congress informal notification of its plan to sell the equipment in a deal worth $2 billion.

One-China policy:

• China has asked the U.S. to understand that its decision to sell arms to Taiwan might cause problems between China and Taiwan as it is expected Taiwan to abide by the One China principle.

• One-China policy says that there is only one country of China with the official name of China, despite the fact that there are two governments namely the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC).

• Despite being ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, China still views Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary.

• If China announces war on Taiwan, the country outgunned in terms of troop numbers and firepower. Hence, Taiwan is in need to upgrade much of its equipment. Its current tank force consists of around 1,000 CM 11 Brave Tiger and M60A3 tanks, a technology that is increasingly obsolete.

Past Taiwan and US deal:

• The U.S. government announced plans in 2018 to sell spare parts worth $330 million to Taiwan for its U.S. made F-16 fighter jets and C-130 military transport planes. Taiwan has also submitted a formal request to Washington for new fighter jets to upgrade its air force but the US had not made any open response yet.

BANKS AND ECONOMICS:

RBI reduces interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.75 percent.

• The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) reduced interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.75% with immediate effect amid slowing economic growth and rising global uncertainty, for the 3rd time in a row.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced it in the second bi-monthly monetary policy statement for 2019-20.

Purpose:

• The reduction is expected to bring down the EMIs on home and auto loans, and reduce the debt repayment burden on corporates.

What is repo rate?

• It is the rate at which the central bank of a country, that is RBI, lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds. The monetary authorities use this to control inflation. The banks can borrow money for about 7 to 14 days from the Reserve Bank of India.

Policy rates and Reserve ratios:

Policy Repo Rate: 5.75%

Reverse Repo Rate: 5.50%

Marginal Standing Facility Rate: 6.00%

Bank Rate: 6.00%

CRR: 4%

SLR: 19.00%

HDFC Bank appoints new auditor after RBI's action against EY firm.

• HDFC Bank has cancelled the re-appointment of SR Batliboi & Co, a member firm of EY, after the RBI restricted it from auditing commercial banks for a year. India's largest bank by market value has appointed MSKA & Associates as its new statutory auditor. RBI said lapses have been identified in a statutory audit assignment carried out by SR Batliboi.