PREFACE
It gives us great pleasure to release the monthly edition of the PRAVAHINI - Monthly e-Compendium & Weekly e-Periodicals of Current Affairs. The magazine’s members have shown considerable cooperation as well as devotion. We at successmantra.in work tirelessly to create this magazine and bring it to you with a great sense of gratitude.
The PRAVAHINI June-2021 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of June. Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including CLAT, AILET, DU-LLB, HM, CAT, IAS, PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA and various other competitive examinations.
Current Affairs play the bigger role in many competitive and government exams. It holds the power of making or breaking your chance of success. Therefore, the candidates should cover the Current Affairs thoroughly and smartly.
The PRAVAHINI June-2021 eBook is divided into different sections keeping in mind the need of various exams. The sections covered namely International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment, Science & Technology, Legal Affairs, Sports, States News Makers and few others.
We would also be pleased to receive any suggestion that could assist us with the upcoming editions.
Success Mantra (GTB Nagar, Delhi)
Website: www.successmantra.in
Mail Id: [email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. National Affairs
2. International Affairs
3. Economic Affairs
4. Appointments
5. Awards And Honors
6. Important Dates & Sports
7. Reports And Indexes
8. Science & Technology
9. Miscellaneous
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
PM ANNOUNCED COVID PENSION UNDER ESIC SCHEME
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government of India has announced two major measures for those families who have lost the earning member due to Covid, to mitigate financial difficulties that may be faced by them.
Firstly, the government has decided to provide family pension to such families and secondly, provide them with enhanced & liberalised insurance compensation.
Family Pension under Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Dependent family members of such persons will be entitled to get the benefit of a pension equivalent to 90% of the average daily wage drawn by the worker as per the existing norms.
The amount of maximum insurance benefit has been increased from Rs 6 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh. The provision of minimum insurance benefit has been retained at Rs. 2.5 lakh. This benefit will apply retrospectively from 15 February 2020 for the next three years, that is 15 February 2022.
ADB SIGNED AGREEMENT FOR ROAD PROJECT IN SIKKIM
The Asian Development Bank and the Government of India signed an agreement for financing road up-gradation project in Sikkim.
ADB will give a $2.5 million project readiness financing (PRF) loan to support projects related to upgradation of major district roads in Sikkim. It will improve the connectivity and also boost the economic activities in the state.
The Project Readiness Financing (PRF) will help in connecting the major district and other roads with the national and state highway network.
The state agencies will prepare detailed engineering designs of selected sub-projects and do feasibility studies. Sikkim’s road network requires regular up-gradation due to frequent landslides and erosion.
• ADB is a regional development bank established in 1966
• ADB Members: 68 countries (49 members are from Asia pacific region)
• ADB is headquartered in Mandaluyong, Philippines
• Masatsugu Asakawa is the current president of ADB.
THAAWAR CHAND GEHLOT LAUNCHED 'SAGE' INITIATIVE
The Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot virtually launched an initiative called, SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine) on June 04, 2021, and also the SAGE portal to support India’s elderly persons.
The SAGE portal will act as a “one-stop access” of elderly care products and services by credible start-ups.
About the SAGE: The start-ups will be selected under SAGE on the basis of innovative products and services, which they should be able to provide across sectors such as health, housing, care centres, apart from technological access linked to finances, food and wealth management, and legal guidance.
The basic aim of this initiative is to involve youth for elderly care by way of start-ups and their innovative ideas to make elderly care a national movement than just a government programme.
INS SANDHAYAK TO BE DECOMMISSIONED
Indian Navy’s hydrographic survey ship, Sandhayak would be decommissioned after serving the nation for 40 years.
The decommissioning ceremony of INS Sandhayak will be held at naval dockyard Visakhapatnam and will be a low-key event attended only by in-station officers and sailors with strict observance of COVID-19 protocols.
Apart from survey missions: The ship has been an active participant in many significant operations such as Operation Pawan (assisting the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka in 1987) and Operation Rainbow (rendering humanitarian assistance post Tsunami of 2004).
The ship was commissioned to the Indian Navy on February 26, 1981. Since that day, the ship has been the alma-mater nurturing the hydrographers of the Indian Navy thereby laying the foundation of complete hydrographic coverage of the peninsular waters.
WORLD'S LARGEST GREEN RAILWAYS: INDIAN RAILWAYS
Indian Railways are on their way to becoming the world's "largest green railways," with zero carbon emissions.
Dedicated freight corridors are being developed into a low-carbon green transportation network with a long-term low-carbon roadmap, which will enable it to adopt more energy-efficient and carbon-friendly technologies, processes and practices.
In 2016, an MoU was signed between Confederation of Indian Industry and IR to facilitate green initiatives on IR.
Climate Change features have been incorporated into Indian Railways' risk assessments and disaster management protocols.
The Environment Sustainability Report, published annually by IR and subsidiary units, establishes a framework document defining strategies and focal points in the context of climate change, the issues at stake, and steps to address them.
NTPC LTD. JOINS UN'S CEO WATER MANDATE
India’s largest power utility, NTPC Ltd, under the Ministry of Power, has become a signatory to the prestigious UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate that focuses on efficient water management.
The initiative also provides a platform for companies to partner with like-minded businesses, UN agencies, public authorities, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders.
The CEO Water Mandate is an initiative by the UN Global Compact, designed to assist companies in the development, implementation, and disclosure of comprehensive water strategies and policies, to better their water and sanitation agendas as part of long term Sustainable Development Goals.
• NTPC Chairman and Managing Director: Shri Gurdeep Singh.
• NTPC Founded: 1975.
• NTPC Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
RAIMONA BECOMES ASSAM'S SIXTH NATIONAL PARK
Raimona in Kokrajhar district has become Assam’s sixth national park. The 422 sq ft wildlife habitat in Kokrajhar district adjoins the western-most buffer to Manas Tiger Reserve.
The five national parks that existed prior to the 422 sq. km Raimona are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa.
The Pekua River defines Raimona’s southern boundary. Raimona is an integral part of the 2,837 sq. km Manas Biosphere Reserve and the Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve.
Such secured transboundary ecological landscape will ensure the long-term conservation of endemic species like the golden langur, the mascot of Bodoland Territorial Council and endangered species such as the Asian elephant, the Bengal tiger and varied other flora and fauna species it support.
ASSAM'S 7TH NATIONAL PARK: DEHING PATKAI
The Assam Government has decided in its recent cabinet meeting to declare Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary as the 7th National Park of the state.
The newest national park, popularly known as Dehing Patkai Rain Forest, has unique floral and faunal diversity, which was recognized by the state government in 2004 when 111.19 square kilometres of the area was notified as Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.
The area is home to hoolock gibbon, elephant, slow loris, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, golden cat, fishing cat, marble cat, sambar, hog deer, sloth bear, and several bird species including the endangered state bird, the white-winged wood duck.
The state now has the second-highest number of national parks in the country. Madhya Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have nine national parks each.
• Assam Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
• Assam Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma.
INDIA SELECTED AS MEMBER OF UN ECOSOC
India has been elected as a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the six main organs of the United Nations, for three-year terms of 2022-24.
India was elected to the 54-member ECOSOC, by the UNGA on June 7, 2021, in the Asia-Pacific States category, along with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Oman.
ECOSOC serves as the central platform for discussing international economic, social and environmental issues and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the United Nations system.
• ECOSOC Headquarters: New York and Geneva
• ECOSOC Founded: 26 June 1945
• ECOSOC President: Oh Joon.
31ST INDO-THAI CORPAT BEGINS IN ANDAMAN SEA
The 31st edition of the India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) kicked off on June 09, 2021, in the Andaman Sea.
The three-day coordinated patrol between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy is being conducted from 09 to 11 June 2021.
From the Indian side, an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Saryu, is participating and from Thailand Navy, HTMS Krabi is participating in CORPAT, along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies.
About the CORPAT: The CORPAT exercise is being conducted between the two navies bi-annually since 2005, along their International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
CORPAT builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and develops measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
BRICS FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING CONCLUDED
External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar has chaired the meeting of BRICS foreign ministers through video conferencing.
Foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa participated in this meeting. In this meeting, Ministers agreed to cooperate on the pillars of political and security, economic and finance, and People to people and cultural exchanges.
About the Meeting: They also discuss the social and economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and also agreed on the need for reform in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations.
They also discussed many issues including sustainable development, Terrorism, intra-BRICS cooperation, etc. All member countries adopted and released the ‘BRICS Joint Ministerial Statement on Strengthening and Reforming of the Multilateral System’.
CHINA CREATED AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM ALONG LAC
China has created a combined air defence system along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The combined air defence system has been developed with the elements of the air force and army of western theatre command.
For the first time, an integrated army air defence system has been developed by china along the western borders.
The combined air defence system has been developed for putting all assets of the army and air force under central control. Since 2017, China has increased the number of airbases and heliports near the LAC.
Line of Actual Control: It is a line that separates India controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. The major disagreement between India and China is on the western side of LAC.
India-China LAC is divided into three parts:
• Arunachal and Sikkim Border
• Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Border
• Ladakh Border
BILL GATES & EU PLEDGES FOR GREEN TECHNOLOGY
The European Union and an energy investment programme founded by Bill Gates plan to raise up to $1 billion to roll out the low-carbon technologies Europe is betting on to meet its climate change goals.
The partnership would see Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy use private capital and philanthropic funds to match funding provided by the EU.
The aim is to together provide up to 820 million euros, or $1 billion, from 2022 to 2026. Support will target hydrogen produced from renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuels, technology to suck CO2 out of the atmosphere, and long-duration energy storage.
Those technologies are seen as critical to slashing emissions from sectors like heavy industry and aviation but remain too expensive to scale up without support and compete with cheaper fossil fuel alternatives.
G7 MINIMUM GLOBAL CORPORATE TAX DEAL
Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies signed a landmark deal on taxing multinational companies. As per the deal, the minimum global tax rate would be at least 15 per cent.
The agreement was signed by finance ministers of the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Canada, France, Italy and Japan. It opens the way for levies on multinational companies in countries where they operate rather than just where they are headquartered.
The old system of global taxation was being criticized over the years as it allowed big companies to save billions of dollars in tax bills by shifting their jurisdictions. Major digital companies were making money in multiple countries and paying taxes only in their home country.
Thus, this proposal was made which would impose an additional tax on several multinational companies and technology giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google to pay taxes to countries based on where their goods or services are sold irrespective of their physical presence there. The deal seeks to modernize the century-old international tax code.
MALDIVIAN MINISTER ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF UNGA
Maldivian foreign minister, Abdullah Shahid was elected President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (PGA) with an overwhelming majority.
He garnered 143 votes in favour with 48 against – that gave him victory by a three-fourths majority. The post of the UN General Assembly President rotated annually among regional groupings.
The 76th session (2021-22) is the turn of the Asia-Pacific group and this is the first time Maldives will be occupying the office of the PGA. The PGA’s office is the highest office in the UN System and reflects the collective goodwill of the 193 Member States of the UN.
Both Maldives and Afghanistan have friendly ties with India. India’s vote however went to the Maldives since New Delhi had committed support to Shahid prior to Rassoul entering the fray.
EL SALVADOR BECOMES 1ST TO LEGALISE BITCOIN
El Salvador has become the first country in the world to grant legal tender status to bitcoin. The use of bitcoin as legal tender will become law in 90 days.
El Salvador’s economy heavily relies on remittances and so those who are working abroad can send money back home in bitcoins. The use of bitcoin will be totally optional.
It will bring financial inclusion, investment, tourism, innovation and economic development to the country.
• El Salvador Capital: San Salvador; Currency: United States Dollar;
• President of El Salvador: Nayib Bukele.
INTERPOL LAUNCHED 'I-FAMILIA' TO IDENTIFY MISSING PERSON
Interpol has launched a new global database named “I-Familia” to identify missing persons through family DNA and help the police solve cold cases in member countries.
Describing it as a groundbreaking database officially launched this month, the Interpol in a statement said it applied cutting-edge scientific research and used the DNA of relatives to identify missing persons or unidentified human remains around the world.
About I-Familia: I-Familia is a global database launched to identify missing persons through family DNA. It will help the police to solve cases in member countries.
Interpol applies cutting-edge scientific research and uses the DNA of relatives to identify missing persons or unidentified human remains around the world.
DNA kinship matching is used mostly in cases where a direct sample of the missing person is not available.
Components: I-Familia has three components:
• Dedicated global database to host the DNA profiles provided by relatives. It is held separately from any criminal data;
• DNA matching software called Bonaparte developed by Dutch company Smart Research; and
• Interpretation guidelines developed by Interpol.
Interpol President: Kim Jong Yang
Interpol Founded: 7 September 1923.
Interpol Headquarters: Lyon, France, Motto: “Connecting police for a safer world”.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
MOODY'S PROJECTS INDIA'S ECONOMY TO GROW AT 9.3%
According to Moody’s Investors Service, India’s economy will rebound in the current financial year to mark a growth of 9.3 per cent but the second Covid-19 wave has increased risks to the country’s outlook with potential longer-term credit implications.
Moody’s Investors Service has projected the GDP growth rate of the Indian economy as follows:
• 2021-22 (FY22): 9.3%
• 2022-23 (FY23): 7.9%
In terms of Sovereign ratings, Moody’s has estimated a ‘Baa3’ rating on India with a negative outlook. The economy rebounded quickly from a steep contraction in 2020, it said.
But risks to India’s credit profile including a persistent slowdown in growth, weak government finances and rising financial sector risks have been exacerbated by the shock of coronavirus second wave.
WIPRO 3RD INDIAN IT FIRM TO CROSS 3 TRILLION CAP
Wipro has touched Rs 3 trillion in market capitalisation for the first time, becoming the third Indian IT firm to achieve the milestone after Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys.
The company won its largest deal ever from German retailer Metro and has seen deal wins of $7.1 billion. India has a total of 13 listed firms that have crossed the Rs 3 trillion m-cap. Wipro now ranks 14th.
Reliance Industries is India’s most valued company with a market capitalisation of ₹14.05 trillion, followed by Tata Consultancy Services Ltd and HDFC Bank with an m-cap of ₹11.58 trillion and ₹8.33 trillion, respectively.
• Chairman of Wipro Limited: Rishad Premji.
• Wipro Headquarters: Bengaluru.
• Wipro MD and CEO: Thierry Delaporte.
APPOINTMENTS
TATA STEEL'S TV NARENDRAN AS CII PRESIDENT
Tata Steel Ltd chief executive officer and managing director, T.V. Narendran has taken over as president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2021-22.
He takes over the leadership of the industry body from Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd managing director and chief executive officer Uday Kotak, who has completed his term.
Narendran, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, has been associated with the CII for many years.
He was the chairman of CII eastern region during 2016-17 and has led the industry body’s national committees on leadership and human resources, besides being chairman of CII Jharkhand.
• Confederation of Indian Industry Founded: 1895.
AK MISHRA TO BE THE NEW CHAIRPERSON OF NHRC
Former Supreme Court judge Arun Kumar Mishra will be the new chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) after a high-powered recommendation committee proposed his name.
The selection panel consisted of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.
Former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Mahesh Mittal Kumar, and former Director of Intelligence Bureau, Rajiv Jain, had also been recommended by the high-powered panel as members of the NHRC but the official notification is yet to be out until the filing of this report.
CBDT MEMBER JB MOHAPATRA: ADDL. CHARGE AS CHAIRMAN
The Finance Ministry Jagannath Bidyadhar Mohapatra, Member, CBDT, has been given the additional charge of chairman of the direct taxes board for three months.
The extended tenure of the incumbent chairman Pramod Chandra Mody ended on May 31.
In February, he was given a third extension till May 31. Last week, the government had appointed three new members to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the administrative and policy-making body for the Income Tax Department.
WHATSAPP NAMED PARESH B LAL AS GRIEVANCE OFFICER
The Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp has named Paresh B Lal as the Grievance Officer for India.
WhatsApp has updated the details on its website for how to contact Mr Lal because, under the IT law, social media companies are required to display the names and other details of their grievance officers on their websites.
The appointment is in line with the government’s new IT order that requires all the tech companies, like Google, Facebook, WhatsApp to appoint a grievance officer, nodal officer and a chief compliance officer from India.
The grievance officer shall address the complaint within 24 hours and dispose of the complaint within 15 days.
• WhatsApp Founded: 2009
• WhatsApp CEO: Will Cathcart (Mar 2019–)
• WhatsApp Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States
• WhatsApp Acquisition date: 19 February 2014
• WhatsApp Founders: Jan Koum, Brian Acton
• WhatsApp Parent organization: Facebook.
RANJITSINH DISALE APPOINTED AS WB EDUCATION ADVISER
Ranjitsinh Disale has been appointed as the World Bank Education advisor, starting from June 2021 to June 2024.
He is the first Indian to have been awarded the Global Teacher Award in 2020, will now be working on the Coach Project, launched by the World Bank in March 2021. The project’s aim is to ‘help countries accelerate learning by improving teacher professional development.’
About Ranjitsinh Disale: Disale is from Paritewadi Village in the Solapur district of Maharashtra. He had initially wanted to become an engineer, but later took up the teacher’s training programme.
He is the first Indian to have been awarded the Global Teacher Award in 2020. He won the award in recognition of this work in promoting the education of girls.
• World Bank Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
• World Bank Formation: July 1944.
• World Bank President: David Malpass.
ANUP C. PANDEY APPOINTED AS ELECTION COMMISSIONER
The Union government has appointed Anup Chandra Pandey, a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch, Uttar Pradesh cadre, as Election Commissioner.
In the Election Commission, Pandey will have a little under three years in office and will retire in February 2024.
Pandey has been appointed to the position left vacant by former Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora’s retirement on April 12. Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar are the other two members of the panel.
This restores the three-member commission to its full strength, which will now oversee the next set of crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand next year.
AWARDS & HONOR
WHO HONOURED VARDHAN FOR EFFORTS IN TOBACCO CONTROL
World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan with `WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award` for his accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.
Every year, WHO recognises individuals or organisations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.
This recognition takes the form of the WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards.
Dr Harsh Vardhan leadership was instrumental in the 2019 national legislation to ban E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
DAVID DIOP WINS INT. BOOKER PRIZE
David Diop has become the first French novelist to win the International Booker prize for translated fiction with At Night All Blood Is Black, his first novel translated into English.
Diop, the author of two novels, and his translator Anna Moschovakis split the £50,000 annual prize, which goes to the best author and translator of a work translated into English.
The International Booker Prize, formerly known as the Man Booker International Prize, has been awarded since 2005 when it was won by Albanian writer Ismail Kadare.
It is a sister prize to the Booker Prize, awarded to a novel written in English.
SPORTS
INDIAN TEAM AT FOURTH POSITION IN FIH RANKINGS
In Hockey, the Indian men’s team maintained their fourth position while the women’s team held to the ninth position in the latest International Hockey Federation world rankings.
Despite missing the European leg of the FIH Hockey Pro- League series in Great Britain, Spain and Germany in April and May, the Indian men’s team maintained its fourth spot.
In the men’s category:
• Belgium, the reigning world and European champions lead the table, followed by the 2019 FIH Hockey Pro-League winners, Australia.
• The Netherlands are placed third.
• Germany has jumped to fifth place due to their recent performances in the FIH Pro-League.
• Great Britain has also moved up a spot to the sixth position.
• Argentina, the reigning Olympic champions, are seventh.
• New Zealand is eighth,
• Spain ninth Canada is 10th.
In the women’s category:
• The Netherlands women’s team is leading while Argentina is second.
• Australia climbed to the third position while Germany slipped to the fourth position with 2115.185 points.
• Great Britain is ranked fifth
ICC ANNOUNCED 14 TEAMS IN MEN'S CRICKET WC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027 and 2031 will once again be a 14-team, 54-match tournament.
Earlier in the 2019 World Cup, only 10 teams contested, compared to 14 teams in the 2015 World Cup.
These 14 teams will split into two groups of seven, top three from each group will be progressing to a Super Six stage, followed by semifinals and final.
ICC has also decided to expand the men’s T20 World Cup to 20 teams. The tournament will take place every two years from 2024-2030.
• Chairman of ICC: Greg Barclay.
• CEO of ICC: Manu Sawhney.
• Headquarters of ICC: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
SUNIL CHHETRI SURPASSED ARGENTINA'S MESSI
Sunil Chhetri surpasses Argentina’s Lionel Messi and he has become the second-highest active international goal-scorer with 74 strikes.
He made this record in a joint preliminary qualifying round match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
He is currently behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (103) in the active international goal-scorer list. Chhetri also helped India register its rst win in six years in the World Cup qualifiers.
Chhetri is just a goal away from entering world football’s all-time top-10. Sunil Chhetri is an Indian professional footballer. He is popularly known as Captain Fantastic.
DATES & DAYS
INT. DAY OF INNOCENT CHILDREN VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed globally on 4th June every year. This day affirms the UN’s commitment to guard the rights of children.
This day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the planet who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
The main aim of celebrating today is to spread the notice about the pain and sufferings faced by the victims as children.
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression: On August 19, 1982, during an emergency session on the question of Palestine, the UN General Assembly, appalled at the amount of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese child victims of Israel’s acts of aggression, decided to commemorate 4 June of every year because of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: 5TH JUNE
World Environment Day is observed globally on 5th June every year. This day is observed to raise awareness about protecting the environment and to remind people not to take nature for granted.
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.”
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is ‘Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.’ as this year marks the beginning of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Pakistan is the global host for the day to highlight the importance of ecosystem restoration this year.
World Environment Day: The first time World Environment Day was celebrated in 1974 with the slogan “Only one Earth”. In 1972 the conference was held on Human Environment which began from 5th to 16th June at the United Nations.
UN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE DAY: 6TH JUNE
The UN Russian Language Day is observed annually on 06 June. It is one of the six official languages used by the United Nations throughout the Organization.
The day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010.
6 June is chosen as UN Russian Language Day as it coincides with the birthday of Aleksandr Pushkin, a Russian poet who is considered the father of the modern Russian language.
Each of the six official languages has been assigned a day of celebration by the UN’s Department of Public Information in 2010 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.
WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY: 7TH JUNE
World Food Safety Day is observed on 7th June globally. The aim of the day is to raise awareness about different foodborne risks and the measures of how to prevent it.
The campaigns will also spread awareness that how food safety is very much important and related to different other important factors of life such as human health, economic growth, and many others.
Also, the day will surely ensure in building up a connection between food safety and other elements such as agriculture, sustainable development, and market access.
This year’s theme is “Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow”.
It discusses the fact that the production and consumption of safe food have immediate and long-term benefits. Recognizing the systemic connections between the health of people, animals, plants, the environment and the economy will help us meet the needs of the future.
History of World Food Safety Day: The first-ever World Food Safety Day, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018.
The theme of the first-ever Food Safety Day 2019 is “Food Safety, everyone’s business”. In this direction, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations decided to celebrate 7th June as the First food safety day since 7th June 2019.
• Director-General of WHO: Tedros Adhanom
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters: Rome, Italy
• Food and Agriculture Organization Established: 16 October 1945
• Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization: Dr QU Dongyu.
WORLD OCEAN DAY OBSERVED ON 8TH JUNE
World Ocean Day is observed globally on 8th June every year. This day is observed to raise global awareness about the importance of the ocean in our lives and the ways through which we can protect it.
The purpose of the Day is to tell the general public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans.
“The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods” is the theme for World Oceans Day 2021, as well as a declaration of intentions that launches a decade of challenges to get the Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources”, by 2030.
This year’s theme is especially relevant in the lead-up to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which will run from 2021 to 2030.
The Decade will strengthen international cooperation to develop scientific research and innovative technologies that can connect ocean science with the needs of society.
The government of Canada had proposed the concept of World Ocean Day, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Officially World Ocean Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 to be celebrated worldwide annually on 8 June to resolve the issues of oceans and also to save ocean water. By the collaboration of The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network, it has been started celebrating on the international level.
REPORT & INDEXES
V CENTRE FOR WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING 2021-22
Centre for World University Rankings 2021-22 has announced, 19,788 institutions were ranked, and those that placed at the top made the global 2000 list.
Harvard University has topped the ranking globally followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, and Oxford University respectively.
As many as 68 Indian institutes have made it to the list of the top 2000 higher education institutes across the world, as per the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR) 2021-22.
The Indian pack is led by the IIM-Ahmedabad which has bagged 415th rank followed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) at 459th rank.
CWUR Ranking 2021: Top 10 Indian Institutes
• Global Rank 415: IIM Ahmedabad
• Global Rank 459: Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
• Rank 543: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
• Rank 557: IIT Madras
• Rank 567: IIT Bombay
• Rank 571: University of Delhi
• Rank 623: IIT Delhi
• Rank 708: IIT Kharagpur
• Rank 709: Panjab University
• Rank 818: IIT Kanpur
KERALA TOPS NITI AAYOG SDG INDIA INDEX
Kerala has retained the top rank in Niti Aayog’s 3rd edition of SDG India Index 2020-21, while Bihar has been adjudged as the worst performer.
The Index for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) evaluates the progress of states and union territories on social, economic and environmental parameters. Kerala retained its rank as the top state with a score of 75.
The third rendition of India’s SDG Index was launched by Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar on 3rd June.
The top-performing states and UTs as per the report are:
• Kerala with a score of- 75
• Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu with a score of -74
• Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka and Uttarakhand scored- 72
• Sikkim scored- 71
• Maharashtra with a Goal score of- 70
The worst-performing states and UTs include:
• Chhattisgarh, Nagaland and Odisha with a score of- 61
• Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh at a score of- 60
• Assam scored- 57
• Jharkhand scored- 56
• Bihar at-52
QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2022 RELEASED
The London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has released the QS World University Rankings 2022 which compares and ranks Universities from across the globe on various parameters.
Eight Indian universities have found a place among the best 400 global universities in the QS World University Rankings 2022, released on June 09, 2021. However, only three Universities namely the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, IIT-Delhi, and IISc Bangalore feature among the top 200.
Top Indian University: IIT-Bombay is ranked as the best University in India with a rank of 177. It is followed by IIT-Delhi (185) and IISc (I86).
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has also been adjudged as “world’s top research university, achieving a perfect score of 100/100 for Citations Per Faculty (CPF) indicator, which measures research impact. This is the first time that any Indian institute has scored a perfect 100 in research or any other parameter.
Top University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has topped the ranking for the 10th years in a row. MIT is followed by the University of Oxford in the second position. Stanford University and the University of Cambridge shared the third spot.
17TH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS REPORT
India’s rank has slipped by two places from last year to 117 on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted as a part of the 2030 agenda by 193 United Nations member states in 2015.
India ranks below four South Asian countries: Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The State of India’s Environment Report 2021 revealed that India’s rank was 115 last year and dropped by two places primarily because of major challenges like ending hunger and achieving food security (SDG 2).
Achieving gender equality (SDG 5) and building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation (SDG 9) remain in the country.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
INDIA TO RECEIVE 3 MH-60 ROMEO HELICOPTERS FROM US
The Indian Navy is set to receive its first set of multi-role helicopters as America is set to hand over three MH-60 Romeo helicopters to the force in the United States in July.
The first batch of Indian pilots has also reached the US for training on the helicopters which would be arriving in India next year in July.
India and the US had signed over-Rs 16,000 crore deal to buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin in 2020 under fast track procedures on a government-to-government deal to hasten the process.
About the Romeo: The 24 MH-60 Romeos would be equipped with multi-mode radars and night-vision devices as well as armed with Hellfire missiles, torpedoes and precision-guided weaponry.
India and the US are also working on finalising a deal for buying 30 Predator drones to enhance the strike capabilities of the three defence forces.
MISCELLANEOUS
NATO CONDUCTED 'STEADFAST DEFENDER WAR GAMES'
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is organising “Steadfast Defender 21 war games” military exercises in Europe as tensions with Russia increases.
These war games are being organised with the aim of simulating the response of a 30-nation military organisation for the attack on any one of its members. It seeks to test the ability of NATO to deploy troops from America.
Top NATO brass insists that the military exercises, involving some 9,000 troops from 20 nations, are not aimed at Russia specifically, but they focus on the Black Sea region, where Russia stands accused of blocking the free navigation of ships.
• NATO Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
• NATO Chairman of the NATO Military Committee: Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach.
BENGALURU INT. AIRPORT: NET ENERGY NEUTRAL STATUS
The Kempegowda International Airport here has achieved net energy neutral status in the Financial Year 2020-21 as part of its sustainability goals.
Bengaluru international airport (BIAL) has been able to save nearly 22 lakh units of energy in the Financial Year 2020-21, enough to power nearly 9,000 houses for a month.
According to BIAL, these measures were achieved through solar installation at rooftops of utility buildings, car parks, ground-mounted solar installation at the airside, rooftops of cargo buildings and project offices.
It has also begun purchasing 40 million units of solar power through open access and wind power purchase through open access. Adoption of LED and optimal use of natural light contributed to energy-neutral status.
WHO NAMES INDIAN VARIANTS AS 'KAPPA' & 'DELTA'
The UN health agency, World Health Organisation (WHO), has given easy-to-say labels to two variants of the Covid-19, first found in India.
The two variants are B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2. The B.1.617.1 variant of the Covid 19 has been named as ‘Kappa’ while the B1.617.2 variant is named as ‘Delta.’
The naming of these variants do not aim at replacing the existing scientific names of these #SARSCoV2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) & Interest (VOIs), but is aimed at helping the public discussion about VOI/VOC.
FIRST HUMAN CASE OF 'H10N3 BIRD FLU IN CHINA
A 41-year-old man in China’s eastern province of Jiangsu has been confirmed as the first human case of infection with the H10N3 strain of bird flu, China’s National Health Commission (NHC).
The man, a resident of the city of Zhenjiang, was hospitalised on April 28 after developing a fever and other symptoms. He was diagnosed as having the H10N3 avian influenza virus.
About the H10N3: H10N3 is a low pathogenic, or relatively less severe, the strain of the virus in poultry and the risk of it spreading on a large scale was very low.
Many different strains of avian influenza are present in China and some sporadically infect people, usually those working with poultry.
There have been no significant numbers of human infections with bird flu since the H7N9 strain killed around 300 people during 2016-2017.
PHARMEASY BECOMES INDIA'S LARGEST ONLINE PHARMACY
Pharmeasy has announced the acquisition of rival Medlife, thereby creating India’s largest online pharmacy.
The deal will make PharmEasy the largest player in the domestic online pharmacy sector, with the combined entity set to serve 2 million customers a month. The deal values the stake of Medlife shareholders at $250 million.
Medlife customers need to log in to the PharmEasy app to start using their Medlife account via the same mobile number. All their digitised prescriptions and saved addresses dating back to a year will be available on the PharmEasy app.
