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Days

• 17^th June is observed as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
  • The theme 2024: ‘United for Land. Our Legacy. Our Future.’
  • The United Nations designated the decade of 2010 to 2020 as the United Nations Decade for Deserts, and the fight against desertification.
• Ganga Dussehra also known as the Gangavataran , an important ten-days’ Hindu festival that is celebrated on the tenth day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Jyestha has been started.
  • It commemorates the descent of the holy river Ganga from Heaven to Earth, when King Bhagirath aimed to purify his ancestors’ souls and grant them salvation. With the help of Shiva, he brought the mighty river Ganga to the earth according to Mythology.
• The Hemis Gompa (monastery) has celebrated the Hemis Tsechu Festival this year on the 16^th-17^th June.
  • Celebrated on the 10^th Day of the Lunar Tibetan Calendar, this two day grand festival is celebrated to the birthday of Guru Rinpoche , who introduced the tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan Kingdom in the 8^th century.
  • Hemis Gompa is the biggest monastery of Ladakh.

Obituaries

• Former Odisha Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare has passed away.
• Veteran Sports Journalist Harpal Bedi has passed away.

Awards

• The Sahitya Academy has announced the 2024 Yuva Puraskar and Bal Sahitya Puraskar winners.
  • Yuva Puraskar 2024:
    • Total recipients: 23. (Winner of Sanskrit will be announced later.)
    • English: K Vaishali for her “Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India.”
    • Hindi: Gaurav Pandey for his “Smritiyon ke Beech Ghiri Hai Prithvi”.
  • Bal Sahitya Puraskar:
    • Total winners: 24.
    • English: Nandini Sengupta for her historical fiction “The Blue Horse and Other Amazing Animal Stories from Indian Histrory”
• 2024 Kavli Prize:
  • The Kavli Prize is biennial and is awarded since 2008 in honour of Norwegian-American Businessman and Philanthropist Fred Kavli for the contributions to astrophysics, neuroscience and nanoscience.
  • Total 8 winners were awarded.
  • Winners:
    • Astro Physics:
      • David Charbonneau (Harvard)
      • Sara Seager (MIT)
    • Nanoscience:
      • Robert Langer (MIT)
      • Armand Paul Alivisatos (University of Chicago)
      • Chad Mirkin (Northwestern University).
    • Neuroscience:
      • Nancy Kanwisher (MIT).
      • Winrich Freiwald (The Rockefeller University).
      • Doris Tsao (University of California)
• Renowned Wildlife Filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu has been announced as the winner of Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18^th MIFF.

National News

• The ministry of New and Renewable Energy has organised ‘Global Wind Day 2024’.
  • Theme: Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India.
• The Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum in Bhuj has been listed among the seven most beautiful museums in the World under the prestigious Prix Versailles Award – announced annually at the UNESCO for architecture and design.
  • The museum was built in memory of those who fell victim to the devastating earthquake of 2001 as well as a tribute to the resilience of Kutch.
• The Indian Railways has entered its name into the Limca Book of Records for most people at a public service at multiple venues on February 26, 2024 when an event for the inauguration of road over/ road under railway bridges and for laying the foundation stones of railway stations by PM Narendra Modi was attended by 40,19,516 people at 2,140 venues.
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar has inaugurated the newly constructed ‘Prerna Sthal’ in Parliament House complex. The statues of great leaders and freedom fighters are installed inside the Parliament House Complex in this place.
• The Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, has launched portal to ecologically monitor the Ganga, named, ‘Environmental Flows (E-flows)’, under the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
• The NITI Aayog has launched the ‘AIM-ICDK Water Challenge 4.0’ under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to address critical water-related challenges through inventive solutions in collaboration with the Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK).
  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
    • The govt of India’s flagship initiative set up in 2016 to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country at school, university, research institutions, MSME and industry levels.
    • NITI Aayog is the implementation agency of AIM.
    • NITI Aayog, Chairperson: Narendra Modi.
    • Estd: 1^st JAN, 2015.
    • CEO: B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
    • Vice Chairperson: Suman K Berry.
• The Revised edition of the NCERT Class 12 Political Science textbook does not mentions the BABRI Masjid and instead refers to it as a ‘three domed structure’. Along side it has also cut short the Ayodhya section from four to two pages and obliterated earlier details:
  • The BJP Rath Yatra from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya,
  • The role of Karsevaks
  • The communal violence in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992;
  • President’s rule in BJP-ruled states;
  • The BJP’s expression of ‘regret over the happenings at Ayodhya’
  • The old textbook introduced Babri masjid as a 16^th century mosque built by the Mughal Emperor Babur’s general Mir Baqi.
    • Now the chapter refers to it as ‘a three domed structure that was built at the site of Shri Ram’s birthplace in 1528, but the structure had visible displays of Hindu symbols and relics in its interior as well as its exterior portions’.
  • A subsection in the Supreme Court’s decision on the Ayodhya dispute titkled ‘From Legal Proceedings to Amicable Acceptance’ has been added in the new version of the textbook.
  • It then mentions the 5-0 verdict of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court headed by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi on November 9, 2019 on the Ayodhya dispute.
  • It is the 4^th round of revision of NCERT Textbooks since 2014.

International News

• A five member delegation from Pakistan along with neutral delegates of the World Bank is going to visit Jammu and Kashmir to examine hydro projects of Ratle and Kishenganga, in the wake of Pakistan’s objection under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960.
  • Under the IWT, India was given full rights over the three eastern rivers of Ravi, Beas and Satluj , while Pakistan was granted rights over the three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
• South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected for his second term in the office.
  • South Africa:
    • Capital: Pretoria (Executive), Cape Town (Legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial).
    • Currency: South African Rand.

Science and Tech

• China’s H-alpha Solar Explorer (CHASE), a solar exploration satellite have discovered a new pattern of solar atmospheric rotation.
  • CHASE is a satellite project that was made to look at the sun with its main goal being focusing on its magnetic activity and how its atmosphere behaves.
• Egypt and Bahrain have joined China as international partnersto develop and deliver scientific instruments for the Chang’e-7 mission, aimed at searching for water-ice at the moon’s South Pole in 2026.
  • They have signed a cooperation agreement for the joint development of a hyperspectral camera.
  • Egypt is a member of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) – an initiative proposed by China and Russia to build a base on the moon by the mid-2030s.
  • Bahrain has also signed on to the US-led Artemis Accords.
  • Artemis Accords:
    • Artemis, named after the Greek Moon goddess, is a series of non-binding multilateral arrangements between the US and the other world governments that elaborates on the norms expected to be followed in outer space. It was launched by the US in 2020.
    • India became the 27^th signatory of the Artemis accords.

Sports

• BRICS Games 2024, Kazan, Russia:
  • India has clinched their first medal (bronze) at the ongoing BRICS Games in Kazan, Russia in the Women’s Table Tennis. The team members were Poymantee Baisya, Moumita Dutta and Yashini Sivasankar.

Current Affairs                         18^th June, 2024

Days

• Eid Ul-Adah (the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’) also known as ‘Bakrid’, has been celebrated on 17^th June that coincided with the 10^th of Dhu-al-Hijjah (12^th month) of the Islamic calendar.
  • The festival commemorates prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail when God ordered him to.
  • Hajj Pilgrimage also takes place in the same month when all Muslims visit to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
• 18^th June is celebrated as the Autistic Pride Day to promote acceptance from society and self-awareness amongst autistic people.
  • Theme: “Taking the Mask Off”

Books and Authors

• Alia Bhat has launched her debut children’s book ‘The Adventures of Ed-a-Mamma: Ed Finds A Home’. The book is inspired by her kids-wear brand Ed-a-Mamma.

Awards

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has bagged the ‘Risk Manager of the Year Award 2024’ by London’s Central Banking Publication.

Ranks and Indices

• Global Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2024:
  • India – 176^th/180 countries with a score of 27.6 (only above Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar – bottom 4).
  • Topper: Estonia (1^st) > Luxembourg (2^nd) > Germany (3^rd)
  • Previously India’s rank in the index was 180^th and 168^th in the years 2022 and 2020 respectively.
  • 2024 EPI compares and analyses the environmental performances of 180 countries using 58 indicators across three main categories: Ecosystem Vitality; Environmental Health and Climate Change. The 2024 included 2 new categories namely Biodiversity and Projected greenhouse gas emissions.
  • India’s Rankings and beneath:
    • In South Asia, India is the largest emitter of transboundary pollution, impacting neighbor countries like Bangladesh.
    • India ranks poorly in air quality (177^th ) and projected emissions (172^nd) and Biodiversity & Habitat (178^th) mainly due to heavy reliance on coal.
    • India has made strides in climate change efforts (133^rd) due to its investments and efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
  • EPI:
    • It is a biennial index released by the Yale center For Environmental Law & Policy and the Centre For International Earth Science Information Network Earth Institute, Columbia University, since 2002.

National News

• After USA, Russia, China, France and Japan, India is going to be the 6^th country to have its own Deep Sea Mission. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) is spearheading the development of Matsyayaan 6000 under the ProjectSamudrayaan, a crewed expedition submersible which can drive 6000 meters into the ocean.
  • Valuable resources like polymetallic nodules and sulphides, containing essential metals are found between the depths of 3000 to 5500 meters.
  • NIOT is collaborating with ISRO to develop a “titanium hull” for the vessel – Matsya 6000, with self-flotation technology that will enable it to deal with emergency conditions and be submerged for 72 hours.
  • 2021-2030 has been dedicated by the United Nations as the ‘Decade of Ocean Sciences’.
• The government has refuted the rumors of Agnipath Scheme relaunch as ‘Sainik Samman Scheme’. The Press Information Bureau has clarified that no such decision has been taken by the center.
  • Agnipath scheme is a central government scheme launched in June 2022 for recruitment to the armed forces for individuals aged b/w 17.5 years and 23 years, below the rank of officer, with the objective of deploying fitter, younger troops on front-lines many of whom will be on 4 year contracts.
  • At the time the scheme was launched the average age in the Armed Forces was 32 years, which the scheme is expected to bring down to 26 years.
  • At the end of the tenure, 25% of these recruits, the so called ‘Agniveers’ can join the services on a permanent commission.
• Siddhesh Sakore, a farmer from Maharashtra has been named ‘Land Hero’ by the United Nations Conventions to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on the occasion of World Desertification and Drought Day in a promgram in Bonn, Germany.

State News

Arunachal Pradesh

• Tesam Pongte has been elected as the New Speaker of the 8^th Arunachal Pradesh Assembly.
  • Arunachal Pradesh:
    • CM – Pema Khandu.
    • Governor – Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik.

Assam

• The Assam Secretariat has become the first green secretariat of the country with the inauguration of a 2.5 MW Solar Power project on its campus.
  • Assam:
    • CM – Himanta Biswa Sarma
    • Governor – Gulab Chand Kataria.

Haryana

• Haryana government is soon going to recruit Van Mitras under the Van Mitra Yojana for taking care of the plants.
  • Haryana:
    • CM- Naib Singh
    • Governor – Bandaru Dattatreya
  • ‘Van Mitra’ Scheme:
    • The ‘Van Mitra’ scheme is designed to foster community engagement in afforestation efforts, specifically targeting non-forest areas across the state.  Eligible individuals aged between 18 and 60 years can register to become ‘Van Mitras’. The scheme allows each ‘Van Mitra’ to plant up to 1,000 saplings. In the first year, participants will receive Rs 20 for each prepared pit, verified through geo-tagging and photograph uploads. Subsequently, Rs 30 will be awarded for each sapling planted, with additional payments for ongoing maintenance and security of the saplings at different rates over the subsequent three years.

Sports

• Gretchen Walsh has set a world record in the Women’s 100m Butterfly by posting a time of 55.18 seconds.
• Ferrari has won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second year in a row.

Current Affairs                   19^th June, 2024

Days

• 19^th June is observed as the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day since 2008 by the United Nations General Assembly.
  • Theme 2024: Hope Through Progress: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally.
  • India has the world’s second largest sickle cell disease burden.
  • National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission was announced as part of the Union Budget 2023 to eliminate sickle cell disease (SCD) in India before 2047.
  • Sickle Cell Anamia:
    • It is an inherited blood disorder that affects haemoglobin that takes a typical haemoglobin called haemoglobin S, which distort red blood cells into a sickle or crescent shape. It inhibits the ability of haemoglobin in the RBC to carry oxygen.

National News

• PM Narendra Modi is going to lead the 10^th International Day of Yoga celebrations at Srinagar on 21^st June.
  • Theme 2024: Yoga for Self and Society.
• Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the government will engage in talks with both Meiteis and Kukis to address the ethnic divide in Manipur as soon as possible. Ethnic violence broke  out in Manipur on May 3, 2023 after a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for ST status took place.
  • Meiteis: 53% of Manipur’s Population, resides mostly in the Imphal Valley; Official language Manipuri; they are divided into clans that prohibits intermarriages. Rice cultivation on irrigated lands is their economic base. Yaoshange festival is celebrated by them which is also regarded as ‘Manipuri Holi’.
  • Kukis: Along with Nagas, their tribal population constitute 40% and mainly resides in the hill districts. They are an ethnic group comprising multiple tribes who originally inhabited the North-Eastern states of India, parts of Myanmar and Bangladesh, present in the whole North East except Arunachal Pradesh. Around 50 tribes of them are scheduled under the ST category, the Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram are kindred tribes of the Kukis- they are collectively known as the Zo people.
• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to undertake a unique initiative to plant Miyawaki plantation on land parcels adjacent to National Highways in and around Delhi-NCR.
  • Miyawaki method, a Japanese approach to ecological restoration and afforestation development aims to create dense, native and biodiverse forests in a short period of time. These forests retain ground water and helps to recharge the ground water table. With this method, trees grow ten times faster and the plantations act as a sound and dust barrier.
  • Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki endowed the Miyawaki technique to create dense forests with native plants.
• Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has initiated targeted actions to protect citizens in response to reports of fraudulent activities involving mobile numbers in electricity KYC update scams.

Awards

• Eminent Children’s Film maker Vinod Ganatara has been conferred with South Africa’s prestigious ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his contribution to the world of cinema for kids.

Defence

• India is going to host its first Multinational air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’. Participating countries are – The US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, UAE, Japan, and Singapore.
  • The 1^st phase will be held in South India in August and the 2^nd Phase will be hosted in Western sector in mid-September.

Science, Tech & Environment

• Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India’s (ZSI) regional centre at Gopalpur in Odisha’s Ganjam district have discovered a new species of snake eel from different estuarine ecosystems named ‘Ophichthus Suryai’ to honour Surya Kumar Mohanty, former joint director of state fishery department.
• Manav Rachna University (MRU) becomes the first university in Delhi NCR to install a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver in collaboration with the Nation Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) – Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – to perform multidisciplinary research in the domain of atmospheric and space research.

Rankings and Indices

• QS Best Student Cities in 2025:
  • Four Indian cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai – have found a spot in this year’s rankings.
  • Delhi- 111st (second most affordable city for students) ; Bengaluru – 130^th (7^th most affordable city for students).
  • Top cities: London – 1^st > Tokyo -2^nd > Seoul -3^rd.
  • Mainland China has the highest number of ranked cities, followed by Taiwan with five, and India and Indonesia with four each.

Sports

• Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan after scoring 100 runs in just 27 balls, has broken Chris Gayle’s record of scoring the fastest T20 century in International cricket against Cyprus.
• Namibia all-rounder David Weise has announced retirement from international cricket.
• Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia has been crowned as the champion in Australian Open Badminton championship.

Current Affairs                  20th June, 2024

Day

• 20^th June is observed as the World Refugee Day.
  • Theme 2024: “For a World Where Refugees Are Welcomed”.

Appointments

• Dhanalaxmi Bank has appointed Ajith Kumar KK as the MD & CEO of the Bank.
  • Dhanalaxmi Bank:
    • HQ – Thrissur, Kerala
    • Tagline – Tann Mann Dhan

Obituaries

• Researcher, Historian and author P Thankappan Nair has passed away at the age of 91. He was known as the ‘Barefoot historian’ of Kolkata.

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National News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the newly built campus of Nalanda University  in Rajgir, Bihar. He also planted a Bodi Tree in the campus brought from the Bodh Gaya.
  • The ruins of the Nalanda University was declared as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 2016.
  • The History of Nalanda University:
    • It was originally founded by Gupta Emperor Kumar Gupta in 427 CE.
    • It was the first residential university in the world which was at its zenith as it boasted an impressive roster of 2000 teachers and 10,000 students from regions faraway like China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and South East Asia.
    • Aryabhatta, the father of Indian mathematics is speculated to have headed the university in the 6^th century CE.
    • The university’s library which was a treasure trove of 9 million handwritten palm-leaf manuscripts, was the world’s richest repository of Buddhist knowledge – known as “Dharma Gunj” of the ‘Mountain of Truth’.
  • Nalanda was rediscovered in 1812 by Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan- Hamilton an later identified as the ancient university by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1861.
• Uttar Pradesh has topped the list of complaints with the National Commission for Women with.
  • Out of total 12,000+ complaints, more than 6000 are from UP followed by Delhi and Maharashtra.
  • Manipur has recorded only three complaints of “crime against women” with the commission.
  • Among the cases registered, highest number of complaints were received in the ‘right to dignity’ category that involves harassment other than domestic violence.
• Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Railways, Ravneet Singh has launched the Website and Mobile Application for the World Food India 2024 with the objective of introducing the world to rich Indian food culture as well as promoting investments.
  • The World Food India will be organised from 19^th to 22^nd September 2024.

Reports and Indices

• Energy Transition Index 2024:
  • Released by – World Economic Forum
  • India’s rank: 63^rd out of 120 countries (in 2023 it was 67^th).
  • Top rank: Sweden > Denmark > Finland > Switzerland > France
  • India’s growth has been registered significantly in all the domains including energy equity, security and sustainability.
  • The WEF has lauded the feats of India achieved in its clean energy infrastructure, with renewable energy and biomass comprising 425 of its power generation capacity, making it the fourth-largest renewables market globally.
  • With the annual investments nearing USD 10 billion, India is driving the adoption of EVs and the production of green hydrogen.
  • India’s per capita emissions are at 1.7 tonnes of CO2 – 60% lower than the global average of 4.4 tonnes of CO2 per capita.
  • Countries like China and India are leading in developing new energy solutions and technologies.
• Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living Survey:
  • Mumbai has stood out as the most expensive Indian cities for the expatriates in terms of cost of living.
  • Globally Mumbai stood at the 116^th position in the index and Delhi stood at 164^th place.
  • Globally top five most expensive cities are – Hong Kong, Singapore, Zurich, Geneva and Basel.
  • The survey evaluates the cost of living in 227 cities across the globe, taking into account factors such as housing, transportation, food, clothing , household goods and entertainment.
• According to the Kroll’s ‘Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2023: Brands, Business, Bollywood’, Cricketer Virat Kohli has reclaimed his position as India’s most valued celebrity with a brand value of USD 227.9 million, followed by Ranveer Singh and Shah Rukh Khan.

Sports

• World Champion Neeraj Chopra has won a Gold medal in Javelin Throw at the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour in Finland’s Paavo Nurmi Stadium with a throw of 85.97 meters.

Current Affairs                         21^st June, 2024

Days

• 21^st June is observed as the World Hydrography Day to raise awareness about hydrography and how it plays a role in improved knowledge of the seas and oceans.
  • Theme 2024: “Hydrographic Information – Enhancing Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability in Marine Activities”.
• 21^st June is also observed as the World Music Day.
• 21^st June is celebrated as the International Yoga Day since 2015 after Indian PM Narendra Modi had given the suggestion of celebrating an International Yoga Day in his 69^th speech to the UNGA in September 2014.
  • Theme: “Yoga for Self and Society’.
  • This year PM Narendra Modi has celebrated the International Yoga day at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar.

Books and Authors

• Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has released his autobiography titled ‘I Have the Steets: A Kutti Cricket Story’ with his co-author Sidharth Monga. The book has been released by Penguin Random House India (PRHI).
• Writing on various stories of the Indian Economy like the Harshad Mehta scam, liberalization of the Indian economy, Alpana Killawala has launched her new book “A Fly on the RBI Wall”.

Reports and Indices

• Sustainable Development Report 2024:
  • It is published since 2016 after the adoption of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015.
  • Its focus is to achieve 169 specific targets within the 17 SDGs. Although the mandate is non-binding, but all the countries have committed to work towards these goals.
  • Key Highlights of Report:
    • On average, only 16% of the SDG targets are on track to be met globally by 2030.
    • 84% show limited progress or regression.
    •  SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and strong institutions) are particularly off track.
    • Leading Regions: Finland – 1^st > Sweden – 2^nd > Denmark – 3^rd > Germany – 4^th > France – 5^th.
  • India’s rank: 109^th.

National News

• The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the Rs. 76,200 cr Project of Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra.
  • This new major port of a cumulative capacity of 298 million metric tons (MMT) will be developed in the Dahanu taluka of Palghar district of Maharashtra under the PM Gatishakti programme.
  • The Vadhvan port will be developed as an all-weather Green field deep draft which will consist of Nine container terminals, each of a length of 1000 meters.
  • Under the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model, the port will be constructed by Vadhvan Port Project Limited.
  • This upcoming port will be one of the largest ports in India and is expected to serve as a gateway port for the upcoming India-Middle East – Europe Corridor (IMEC) and International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
• The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of Ministry of Home Affairs and launched the “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES)” with a total financial outlay of Rs. 2254.43 crore.
  • Under the three new  criminal laws, the BNS, BNSS and BSA, 2023 , forensic investigation is mandatory for criminal cases which provides for imprisonment of seven years or more.
  • Thus implementation of these three criminal laws is expected to enhance the importance and responsibility of the forensic investigation in the daily law related affairs.
  • Besides it will help the government achieve high conviction rate of more than 90%.
  • National Forensic Sciences University, world’s first and only forensics university is in Gandhinagar, Gujarat which was set up in 2009 as Gujarat Forensic Sciences University and later was nationalized.
• The Union government has given its nod for the development of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi. Under this project – which will be funded by the Airport Authority of India – a new terminal building, runway extension and parallel taxi tracks will be developed and undertaken. This renovation will enhance the annual passenger handling capacity of the Airport from 3.9 million to 9.9 million.
• The Union Cabinet has approved Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for the implementation of Offshore Wind Energy Projects with the objective to set up first ever offshore wind energy projects in India under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) with a financial outlay of Rs. 7453 cr.
  • 1 GW of offshore wind energy projects (500 MW each off the coast of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat) will be installed and commissioned. Two ports will infrastructure upgradation to meet logistics requirements for offshore wind energy projects.
  •  Viability Gap Funding (VGF): It is a scheme that aims to support infrastructure projects that are economically justified but fall marginally short of financial viability. The government supports with funds up to only 20% of the total project cost and the rest is handed over to a private firm for development on the basis of competitive bidding.
  • With the commissioning of the 1 GW offshore wind project, India will tap into its vast renewable energy excavation potential and produce an electricity of 3.72 billion units annually. It will curb CO2 emission up to 2.98 million tons – equivalent to 25 years’.
  • The Government of India has given itself a target to achieve at least 500 GW of non-fossil fuel installed capacity which includes 280 GW of Solar power and 140 GW of wind power projects, by 2030.
• The Government has hiked the MSP for all 14 Khariff crops including Paddy and Cotton. Bajra has the highest margin over the cost of production (77 percent) followed by Tur (59%) maize (54%) and Urad (52%).
  • Minimum Support Price (MSP):
    • In 1966-67 the government had introduced the Minimum Support Price with the objective to encourage farmers to adopt modern scientific farming to increase production and to raise productivity and crop production in  the country to meet the emerging demand pattern in the country.
    • Khariff crops: Rice, Maize, Sorghum, Bajra, Soybean, Cotton.
    • Rabi crops: Wheat , Barley, Oats, Pulses, Mustard, Linseed.
• Uttar Pradesh is going to establish the world’s first red-headed or Asian King Vulture Conservation & Breeding Centre in Maharajganj.
  • Conservation status:
    • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
    • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

International News

• Ancient Pearl city of Tu’am has been discovered in UAE. It is believed to have dated back to at least the 4^th century reaching its peak in the 6^th century.
• Thailand has become the first South East Asian country to legalize the Same Sex Marriages. Before it only Nepal and Taiwan were the Asian countries to legalize it.
  • Thailand:
    • Capital: Bangkok.
    • Currency : Thai Baht.

Current Affairs                  22^nd June, 2024

Days

• 22^nd June is observed as the ‘World Rainforest Day’. About half of all the forests in the world are tropical rainforests which grow in Africa, South East Asia, South and Central America. Rainforest ecosystem occupies less than two percent of Earth’s surface, but between 50% and 70% of the plant and animal species of our planet are found here.
• June 21 was the Summer Solstice. In Latin, ‘Solstice’ means ‘sun stands still’.
  • On the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, receiving the full glare of the Sun’s rays.
  • Each year, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on one of two days: June 20 or June 21.
• The national Poson week has commenced in Sri Lanka and will continue until the 24^th of June.
  • The festival is held on the full moon in June.

Appointments

• Global Wind Energy Council India has appointed Girish Tanti from Suzlon Group as the new Chairperson.
  • India is the World’s 4^th largest Wind Market with 46 GW of onshore wind.
  • The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) was established in 2005 to provide a credible and representative forum for the entire wind energy sector at the international level.
• Actor Theo James has been appointed as the UNHCR Global Goodwill ambassador.
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):        
    • It was established by the UNGA in 1950 in the aftermath of the Second World War to help millions of people who had lost their homes.
    • It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981.
    • HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.

Awards

• Blue Planet Prize 2024:
  • Professor Robert Costanza and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has been awarded the Blue Planet prize 2024.
    • IPBES secretariat is at Bonn, Germany.
  • It is a prestigious prize awarded by Japan’s Asahi Glass Foundation in recognition of important science and practical contributions to solving global environmental problems.

Obituaries

• Actor Donald Sutherland has died at the age of 88. He was well-known for his appearances in Pride and Prejudics, M*A*S*H, The Hunger Games and Ad Astra.
• Former Indian cricketer David Johnson, who bowled at 157.8 kmph has died at the age of 52.
  • He made his test debut against Australia in Delhi in 1996.
• Celia Lobo, opera diva and the mother of choreographer Ashley Lobo has died at the age of 87.

National News

• According to the Digital News Report 2024 conducted by the Reuters Institute, Akashvani News has been recognized as India’s most trusted News Brand in 2024.
  • Chairperson of Prasar Bharati: Navneet Kumar Sehgal.
• The Indian Railways have successfully conducted the trial run on the World’s Highest Rail Bridge, the ChenabBridge.
  • The Chenab Bridge is the highest arch railway bridge globally.
  • The electrification work in this section has been done with the state-of-the-art technology ROCS (Rigid Overhead Conductor System) at 25 kV for the first time on a railway track.
  • Chenab Railway Bridge:
    • It is located b/w Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
    • The 1.3 km long bridge is situated 359 meters above the Chenab riverbed.
    • It is the highest single-arch railway bridge in the world.
    • Its expected lifespan is 120 years and it was made to be ‘blast-proof’ and is capable of withstanding the nation’s maximum intensity zone V earthquake forces.
• Surama Pandit has been elected as the Odisha assembly speaker and thus she becomes the second speaker of the Odisha Assembly after Pramila Mallick of BJD.
  • Odisha:
    • CM: Mohan Charan Majhi.

International News

• Michael Usi has been appointed as the Vice President of Malawi by the President Lazarus Chakwera. Previously, former Vice President Saulos Chilima was killed in a plane crash.
  • Malawi:              
    • Capital: Lilongwe
    • Currency: Malawian Kawacha.

Business and Banking

• Nvidia has solidified its position as the World’s Most Valuable company overtaking Microsoft and Alphabet.

Environment and Science

• Researchers have discovered a new plant species Petrocosmea Arunachalense from the Mandala region of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Researchers from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune have discovered a new genus of Diatom, named ‘Indiconema’ in the unpolluted waters of the Eastern Ghats mountain range (Masila waterfalls, Tamil Nadu).
  • Diatoms are microscopic algae that play a crucial role in producing approximately 25 % of the global oxygen supply. They form the base of the aquatic food chain and serve as valuable indicators of water quality due to their sensitivity to change in water.

Sports

• Smriti Mandhana has become the first Indian woman to hit two consecutive ODI hundreds during the second ODI against South Africa.
  • She also equalized Mithali Raj’s record of Scoring most centuries for India – 7.
  • Most ODI hundreds among women- Suzie Bates (New Zealand) – 12.
• Indian tennis team has bagged Bronze at the BRICS Games in Kazan, Russia.
• USA is going to host the 2024 Copa America football tournament from June 20 to July 14.

Current Affairs                         23^rd– 24^th June, 2024

Days

• 23^rd June is observed as the United Nations Public Service Day.
  • Theme 2024: “Fostering Innovation amid Global Challenges: a Public Sefctor Perspective’.
• 23^rd June is also celebrated as the International Olympic Day since 1948, commemorating the revival of the Olympic Games in Paris on June23, 1894.
  • The IOC (International Olympic Council) was formed on the same day.
  • Theme 2024: ‘Let’s Move and Celebrate’.
• 23^rd June is also observed as the International Widows Day since 2011 to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support they need.
• 24^th June is observed as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
  • Theme 2024: Women’s Leadership in Multilateral Diplomacy.

Obituaries

• Ayodhya Ram Mandir pran pratistha ceremony chief Acharya Laxmikant Dixit has died at the age of 86.
• Former basketball player S.K. Subramaniam has passed away. He is the only Indian to officiate in the basketball final b/w South Korea and China in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

Appointments

• Pradeep Singh Kharola has taken additional charge as the DG of the National Testing Agency (NTA) after Subodh Kumar Singh, the previous DG has been removed for the alleged irregularities in the NEET and NET exams.
  • National Testing Agency (NTA):
    • Estd: 2017
    • It is an autonomous body tasked with conducting various entrance examinations for admissions to highest educational institutions.
    • Exams conducted by it – NEET, JEE, GATE, CTET, GPAT, GMAT, CAT, UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC NET.
    • Chairman: Pradip Kumar Joshi, former chairman of UPSC.
• Atul Kumar Chaudhary has been appointed as the secretary of the Telecom RegulatoryAuthority of India (TRAI).
  • HQ: New Delhi.
  • Chairperson: Anil Kumar Lahoti.
• Bharati AXA has appointed Nikhil Gupta as the New Chairman.

Awards

• 18^th Mumbai International Film Festival:
  • ‘Golden Conch Award’ for Best International Documentary Film: The Golden Thread  by Nishta Jain.
  • 18^th V. Santaram Lifetime Achievement Award: Subbiah Nallamuthu.
  • Best International Short Fiction Film: Sour Milk
  • Best International Animation Film: Zima
  • Pramod Pati Award for Most innovative / experimental film: ‘The Old Young Crow’.
• Kalash Gupta, a CSE student of the IIT Delhi has won the World’s Largest Coding Competition, TCS Code Vita Season 10, which is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest programming contest.
• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank, a RRB sponsored by the Canara Bank, has won the National Award by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India (PFRDA) for the implementation and enrollment under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
  •  

National News

• The Ambubachi Mela has begun at the Kamakhya Temple from 22^nd June, celebrating the annual menstruation of the goddess Kamakhya, symbolizing fertility and womanhood.
  • This annual holy occasion is celebrated during the monsoon and Assamese month of Ahaar each year.
  • It is also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival.
  • The Kamakhya Temple:
    • Regarded as one of the oldest of the 51 shaktipeethas in India.
    • One of the most revered centres of Tantric practices.
    • It is situated on the Nilachal Hill and the bank of the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati.
    • The temple architecture reflects a combination of the traditional Nagara or North Indian Style of Architecture and Sarasecin of Mughal architecture.
• The 53^rd GST (Goods and Services Tax) Council Meeting was chaired by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
  • Major policy recommendations:
    • Railway services and Hostel Services up to Rs. 20000 per person per month (only if the stay is up to 90 days) shall be exempted from GST.
    • Deadline for furnishing GST Returns will be extended from April 30 to June 30 for the Fiscal year 2024-25.
    • GST on carton boxes has been reduced from 18% to 12%.
    • Solar cookers will have a uniform GST rate of 12%.
  • GST Council:
    • Mentioned in the Article 279A (1).
    • GST came into force by means of the 122^nd Constitutional Amendment Bill that was passed in the Parliament in 2016 and came into effect in 2017.
• The Centre has put into force the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 from June 21 to curb malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations.
  • This law was passed by the Parliament in this February.
  • The act has provisions for a minimum of 3 to 5 years of imprisonment to curb cheating.
  • Those involved in organized crimes of cheating will face 5 to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 Crore.
  • The exams covered under this act are like UPSC, SSC, Railways, Banking Recruitment and other exams conducted by the NTA.
• The Government has set up a seven member expert committee to recommend a roadmap for examination reforms and review the structure and functioning of the National Testing Agency under the chairmanship of ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan.
• PM Sheikh Hasina has become the first state guest of India during the third term of the NDA Government.
  • 8 MoUs were signed b/w the two countries:
  • India will start an e-medical visa facililty for Bangladesh nationals coming to India for medical treatment.
  • India will open a consulate general in Rangpur, Bangladesh to facilitate service for people in the NW region of the country.
  • India and Bangladesh have started trading in Indian Rupees.
  • The electricity export has started from Nepal to Bangladesh via Indian Grid.
  • Bharat-Bangladesh Maitri Satellite will bolster the Indo-Ban relationship.
  • The sixth rail link b/w India and Bangladesh has started between Jakhoda and Agartala.
  • Cargo services have been started for our north-eastern states with the Khulna-Mongla port.
• India has overtaken Brazil to become the world’s 3^rd largest domestic airline market with a 1.55 crore domestic capacity.
  • Low-cost carrier IndiGo has a large contribution  in this aspect, as it doubled its market share to 62% since 2014.
  • The Delhi-Mumbai route is the 8^th busiest route globally.
  • USA and China has maintained the top two spots.

Science &Tech, Environment

• The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has moved the conservation status of the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) – the proverbial ‘cat with nine lives’ – from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Vulnerable’.
  • It is known for its pointy ears, long legs and leopard like spotted fur. It is native to Spain and Portugal. In 2001 its numbers were only 62 adults, which increased to more than 2000+ now.
  • Conservationstatus:
    • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
    • CITES: Appendix II
• ISRO has successfully conducted the third and final test landing experiment of the ‘Pushpak’ reusable Launch Vehicle.
  • The third demonstration of Pushpak reused the winged body and flight systems from the second experiment without any modifications.
  • The reusable launch vehicle is designed to take satellites up to space and return and land on a runway like an aero-plane.

International News

• Mark Rutte, ex-PM of Netherlands, is going to be the new secretary general of the NATO after Jens Stoltenberg.
  • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation):
    • Estd: April 4, 1949
    • HQ: Brussels, Belgium
    • Member countries: 32 (31^st Finland, 32^nd Sweden)

Sports

• Indian Grand Master Arjun Erigaisi has achieved his career best 4^th spot in the live chess ratings following his win in the Stephan Avagyan Memorial 2024 in Armenia.

Current Affairs                  25^th June, 2024

Days

• 25^th June is observed as World Vitiligo Day since June 25^th, 2011.
  • Theme: “United by the Skin”
  • Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder, characterised by the loss of skin colour in patches.

National News

• The First session of the 18^th Lok Sabha has taken place. President Draupadi Murmu has appointed oath to BJP Member Bhatruhari Nahtab as ‘Speaker Pro-tem’ of the newly constituted 18^th Lok Sabha.
  • Under Article 95(1) Speaker Pro Tem (‘pro-tem’ – Latin – ‘for the time being’) has been entrusted with the task of presiding over the inaugural session of the Lok Sabha while the other representatives take their oath.
  • On June 26^th a new Speaker will be elected. As the Leader of the House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the first to take oath.
  • JP Nadda was appointed as the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha replacing Piyush Goyal.
  • Mallikarjun Kharge has been appointed as the leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
  • The Chairman of Rajya Sabha is Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar.
  • The 18^th Lok Sabha will also have a Leader of the Opposition for the first time in 10 years, as in the previous two general elections, the largest opposition party congress could not secure requisite numbers in the house which is 1/10^th of the total membership.
  • President Draupadi Murmu will jointly address both the House on June 27.
  • The session will conclude on July 3^rd and reassemble for the monsoon sitting on July 22.
• Ministry of Coal has initiated India’s first ever pilot Under Ground Coal Gasification Project inJharkhand’sKasta Coal Block in Jamtara district.
  • This first ever ground-breaking initiative aims to revolutionize the coal industry by using in-situ coal gasification to convert it into valuable gases such as methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide which in turn can be used to produce synthetic natural gas chemical feed-stocks for industrial produces.
  • Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) provides a crucial benefit by unlocking coal deposits that are not economically feasible to extract using conventional mining techniques.
  • Minister of Coal – G Kishan Reddy.
• ‘Kozhikode’, known for its richcultural heritage, in Kerala has been declared as India’s first ever UNESCO ‘City of Literature’ .
  • In October 2023, Kozhikode along with Gwalior had been added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
    • Gwalior has been added in the ‘Music’ category and Kozhikode earned a place in ‘Literature’.
  • All the newly designated Creative Cities are invited to participate in the 2024 UCCN Annual Conference (July 1-5, 2024) in Braga, Portugal.
    • Theme: ‘Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade’.
  • Kozhikode:
    • Earlier name ‘Calicut’, was also known as the ‘City of Spices’ and ‘City of Sculptures’.
• Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir has been designated as the ‘World Craft City’ by the World Crafts Council.
  • After Jaipur, Malappuram and Mysore, Srinagar is the 4^th city to be inducted in this category.
    • As of now 10 different forms of craftsmanship survive in Srinagar and its suburbs.
  • World crafts Council:
    • Estd – 1964.
    • Main Office – Belgium.
• AVPL International’s VIRAJ drone has got dual certification from European aviation safety agency, which will allow the company to facilitate drone operations in European Market.
  • The VIRAJ Drone is designated for agricultural applications, classified under small category unmanned vehicle.
• NSE Indices, a subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has launched a new thematic index – the Nifty India Tourism Index. This index will track the performance of companies from the Nifty 500 that are directly linked to the travel and tourism industry.
  • Travel and tourism are two of the largest industries in India with a total contribution of about $199.6 billion to the country’s GDP.
  • The Nifty India Tourism Index will have a base date of April 1, 2005, with a base value of 1000 and the index will be reconstituted twice a year and rebalanced quarterly.

State News

Madhya Pradesh

• The Madhya Pradesh government has approved the establishment of one Prime Minister College of Excellence in all 55 districts of the State under the New Education Policy 2020.
  • The ‘Bharatiya Gyan Parampara Kendra’ – centre Of traditional Indian Knowledge will also be established in each PM College of Excellence.

Assam

• The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) in collaboration with the UNICEF, is providing ‘School in a Box’ kits to children aged 6-18 in flood affected relief camps.
  • These kits contain learning materials aiming to address the psychological impact of displacement on children and teenagers.

Haryana

• Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini has announced at OBC Morcha assembly in Gurugram that the state will increase the annual income limit for OBC creamy layer from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh. Besides, on the line of the central government, income from salary and agriculture will not be included in this limit.

Appointments

• The government has appointed Girija Subhramanian as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the largest general insurer – The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.
  • Hq: Mumbai.
  • Estd- 1919 by Sir Dorabji Tata.
• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has appointed Manoj Jain as the new Chairman and Managing Director.
  • BEL is a Navaratna PSU under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It manufactures electronic products and systems for the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
  • HQ: Bengaluru.
• Paul Thomas, MD & CEO of ESAF Small Finance Bank, has been elected as the Chairperson of the board of Sa-Dhan, which is an association of microfinance and impact finance institutions.
• Sony Pictures India has appointed Gaurav Banerjee as the new MD & CEO.
• Anuj Tyagi has been appointed as the MD & CEO of the HDFC ERGO General Insurance.

Reports and Indices

• UNCTAD’s World Investment Report:
  • FDI inflows to India has declined by 43% in 2023 to $28 billion amid a global decline of 2%.
  • India dropped to the 15^th spot in 2023 from 8^th position in 2022 in terms of FDI inflows, but it remained in the top-5 for both kinds of FDI in greenfield projects and international project finance deals.
  • There has been a general decline in the FDI during 2023 due to the cautious approach adopted by the Multinational Companies (MNCs).
  • Top 5 FDI Countries in the world: 1^st –USA, 2^nd– China, 3^rd-Singapore, 4^th-Hong Kong, 5^th – Brazil. India- 15^th.
  • UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Developoment:
    • Aim- is to promote trade, investment and development of the developing countries.
    • HQ- Geneva, Switzerland.
• According to a latest survey by Luminous Power Technologies, High installation cost and lack of skilled workforce are among the top three barriers for the adoption of rooftop solar power in India.
  • 45% believed skilled labour is unavailable locally.
  • 595 respondents have concerns over high initial installation costs.
• Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2024:
  • India would rank 3^rd in the world this year in terms of the net outflows of millionaires from the country, with 4300 more millionaires leaving than arriving.
    • The top two countries projected to be in this list are China and UK.
  • India is adding ‘far more’ millionaires than it is losing to emigration.
  • India also has the 3^rd highest billionaire population in the world after US & China.
  • UAE was one of the most popular destinations for millionaires from around the world, including India.

International News

• 67^th annual meeting of Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council has been held at 17^th to 20^th June 2024 in Wasshington DC, USA.
  • GEF:
    • Estd: 1992, Rio Earth Summit of UNFCCC.
    • Secretariat – Washington DC.

Defence

• The Indian Air Force have ordered to acquire 6 Tapas drones from the BEL and HAL.
  • These are medium-altitude long, endurance-category drones that have been developed indigenously by the DRDO and manufactured by BEL and HAL.
    • The drones can reach 28,000 ft altitude and could fly for over 18 hours.

Science and Technologies

• Indian scientists have discovered a new Plant Species Denfrophthoe longensis on the long islands in the middle Andamans. The aerial stem-parasitic flowering mistletoe plant species is observed on a specific host plant- Mango, Mangifera Indica.
  • It has amazing hemiparasitic adaptations, but habitat loss and human activities put it at risk.
• China and France have launched most powerful astronomy satellite named, Space Variable Objects Monitor, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, China.
  • The aim of this maiden astronomy satellite developed by China and France is to study the farthest explosions of stars, including gamma ray bursts.

Sports

• IOA president PT Usha have inaugurated BCORE at Rashtriya Raksha University in Lavad , Gujarat.
  • BCORE – Bharat Centre of Olympic Research and Education – will not only help the country prepare for hosting the 2036 olympics, but will also pitch for the inclusion of Indian Sports like Kabadi , Kho-Kho and Yoga in the Olympics.
  • Indian Olympic Association (IOA):
    • Estd: 1927.
    • Founding President and Secretary General – Sir Dorabji Tata and Dr. A.G. Noehren.
• Max Verstappen has won the Spanish Grand Prix 2024.

Current Affairs           26^th-27^th June, 2024

Day

• 26^th June is observed as the ‘International Day in Support of Victims of Torture’.
• 26^th June is also observed as the ‘International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’ or ‘World Drug Day’.
  • Theme: ‘The evidence is clear: invest in prevention’.
• 27^th June is observed as the Micro, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises Day.
  • Theme: MSMEs and the SDGs.
• 25^th June marked the 49^th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency by the country’s first woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.
  • It was issued by then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and the Emergency lasted for 21 months, which later came to be known as the darkest periods in modern Indian history.
  • Emergency & the Constitution:
    • The emergency provisions are contained in Part XVIII of the Constitution of India from Article 352 to 360.
    • There are three types of Emergencies: National Emergency (Article 352), Constitutional Emergency/ State Emergency or President’s Rule – Article 356 & Financial Emergency – Article 360.
  • To prevent any attempt to throttle democracy on the grounds of internal disturbance, as happened in the 1975, the 44^th Amendment was carried out in 1978. And as a result, the President can declare Emergency only due to external aggression and the condition of “internal disturbance” was replaced with ‘armed rebellion’.

National News

• Union Health and Family Welfare Minster JP Nadda has launched the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign with an aim to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhea.
  • In 2014, India became the 1^st country to introduce the Rota virus vaccine.
  • The campaign’s slogan is “Diarrhoea ki Roktham, Safai aur ORS se rakhen apna dhyaan”.
• India is hosting a global event in sugar sector ‘ISO (International Sugar Organisation) Council Meeting’ in New Delhi from 25^th June to 27^th June, 2024.
  • India is the world’s largest consumer and second largest producer of sugar.
  • International Sugar Organisation (ISO):
    • Estd: 3^rd December, 1968.
    • HQ: London
    • It is a UN Affiliated body of 85 countries covering almost 90% of sugar production in the world.
• According to a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Uttar Pradesh is leading India in compressed Biogas production with the potential to generate 24% of the nation’s compressed biogas (CBG).
  • Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) has calorific value and other properties to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and hence can be utilized as green renewable automotive fuel.
• Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Dr. B.D. Mishra, has declared Ladakh as the administrative unit to achieve full functional literacy under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, after having achieved more than 97% literacy.
• Indian Army has opened Kalubar War Memorial in Ladakh.
• Mumbai’s first underground metro is going to be launched in July.
• Minister of Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh has launched “One Week One Theme” (OWOT) campaign showcasing recent success stories of India indifferent streams of science and technology.

Books and Authors

• Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais has released the book “Gateways to the Sea: Historic Ports and Docks of Mumbai Region”.

Appointments

• Telugu Desam Party’s MLA C.Ayyana Patrudu has been elected as the speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
  • AndhraPradesh:
    • CM: N. Chandrababu Naidu
    • Gov.: S. Abdul Nazeer
• Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Kumar Deka and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Secretary General Bharat Lal has received one year extensions.

Awards

• THDC India Limited (THDICL) has been conferred with the prestigious PSU Leadership & Excellence Award 2024 in the category of ‘Leadership in Digital Transformation’.
  • CMD of THDCIL: R.K. Vishnoi.
  • It is a Category-1 Mini Ratna CPSE. Earlier its name was the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd.

State News

Kerala

• Kerala Assembly has passed a resolution to rename the state as ‘Keralam’. The resolution moved by CM Pinarayi Vijayan has requested the government of India to change the state’s name in the first Schedule of the Constitution from Kerala to ‘Keralam’ under Article 3 of the Constitution.
  • Kerala is the English word for the Malyali Keralam.
  • The resolution requested the central government to change the state’s name to Keralam in the first and fourth schedules. The first schedule deals with the names of the state and the union territories. The fourth schedule mentions the seats allocated to the states and the union territories in the Rajya Sabha.
  • The Constitution gives Parliament the sole power to change the name and create or abolish a new state.

Science and Technology

• China’s Chang’e – 6 mission has returned from the far side of the moon with rock samples. It was a 53 day long mission at the South Pole- Aitken Basin.

Sports

• Star Paddler Sreeja Akula has created history by winning the WTT Contender Singkes title in Lagos, becoming the first Indian to win the singles crown.
• Jessica Pegula has won the Berlin Open.
• Andre Russell has become the highest wicket-taker for WI in T20 World Cup history with 29 wickets.

Current Affairs                  28^th June, 2024

Appointments

• Om Birla, the MP from Kota Parliamentary constituency of Rajasthan, has been elected as the Speaker of the 18^th Lok Sabha.
  • By convention, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha are chosen by consensus between the ruling and the opposition parties. However this time, the ruling NDA and the congress party had failed to reach such a consensus, and an election was conducted. The Opposition candidate was K. Suresh of the Congress Party.
  • G.V. Mavlankar was the first speaker of the Lok Sabha.
  • Five persons have been so far elected as the LS Speaker twice: Dr. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Gurdial Singh Dhillon, Balram Jakhar, G.M.C. Balayogi and Om Birla.
    • Dr. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy is the only Lok Sabha speaker to be elected as the President of India.
  • Meira Kumar of Congress was the first woman to be the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
  • Longest Tenure as a speaker was served by Balram Jakhar – over 9 years.
• Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani has been elected as the next Vice Chief of Army Staff. He was serving as the head of the Army’s central command. He has succeeded Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi who will become the Chief of the Army Staff after Gen Manoj Pandey retires on June 30.
• SBI General Insurance has announced Naveen Chandra Jha as its new MD & CEO.
• RBI has inducted Arun Kumar Singh as the additional Director of the Board of Bandhan Bank ahead of CMD Chandra Sekhar Ghosh’s retirement.
  • Bandhan Bank HQ- Kolkata.
  • Tagline – ‘Aapka Bhala. Sabki Bhalai.’
• India’s first AI University, Universal AI University (UAIU) IN Mumbai has appointed Simon Mak as its Vice Chancellor. Tarun Anand is the Chancellor of the University.
• UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis has paid tribute to Indian reformer and educator Hansa Mehta as he honoured women diplomats’ ‘invaluable contributions’ on the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
  • Hansa Mehta served as the Indian delegate to the UN Commission on Human Rights from 1947 to 1948.
    • She is wisely credited with significantly changing the language of Article 1 of the UNDHR, by replacing the phrase “All men are born free and equal” with “All human beings” are born free and equal.
• Kapil Dev has been appointed as the President of the Professional Golf Tour of India.

Awards

• Writer Arundhati Roy has been awarded the PEN Pinter Prize for her ‘unflinching and unwavering’ writings. Established in 2009 by the charity English PEN, it defends freedom of expression and is in memory of the Nobel-Laureate playwright Harold Pinter.
  • The award is given to a writer from the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth whose work is committed to a fearless exposition of truth about contemporary life.

National News

• South India’s first Leopard Safari has recently been opened at Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru.
  • It is the first biological park in India to have a fenced, forested elephant sanctuary.
  • It was declared as a National Park in 1974 and in 2006, India’s first butterfly enclosure was inaugurated at the park.
• Itanagar Woman Police Station has been awarded with the ISO 90001: 2015 Certification for its commitment to dealing humanely and effectively with crimes against women and children.
  • The ISO 90001: 2015 Certification is an international standard that signifies the implementation of a comprehensive quality management system.
• Uttar Pradesh has brought ordinance against paper leaks that will come into effect once it is approved by governor and will become law after it is passed in the assembly.
  • The ordinance provides jail terms ranging from 2 years to life imprisonment and fine up to Rs 1 crore.
  • All offences under the ordinance has been classified as cognizable, non-bailable.
• The Tamil Nadu Government has announced a new International airport for Hosur, the project being a part of the state government’s goal of transforming Hosur into a major economic development hub.
• First International Dairy Federation’s Asia-Pacific Summit has been held in Kochi from June 26 to 28.
  • Theme: ‘Farmer centric innovations in dairying’.
• The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has rolled out the ‘Safai Aapnao Bimaari Bhagao’ initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
  • Its aim is to handle the challenges posed by heavy rainfall. It is also aligned with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s ‘STOP Diarrhoea Campaign’ – ‘Diarrhoea ki Roktham, Safai aur ORS se Rakhein Apna Dhyan’.
• The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has inaugurated a workshop to discuss the preparations about the 21^st Livestock census in New Delhi.
  • Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying : Rajiv Lallan Singh.
  • The Livestock Census has been conducted in the country periodically since 1919-20 and since then once every 5 years. It covers all domesticated animals and their headcounts.
  • 20^th Livestock census:
    • The total livestock population is 535.78 million in the country, showing an increase of 1.3% over previous Census.
    • A decline of 6% in the total indigenous cattle population has been observed.
• The Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has announced the grant of ‘Mini Ratna Status (Category- 1) for the Central Electronics Limited (CEL).
  • CEL:
    • Established – 1974.
    • HQ- Ghaziabad.
• The Central Government has announced the amendment of the 50 year old ‘The Central Civil Services (Leave) (Amendment) Rules, 2024’.
  • According to the changes, in case of surrogacy, the surrogate mother as well as the commissioning mother with less than two surviving children, may be granted maternity leave of 180 days, in case either or both of them are government servants.
  • The ‘Surrogate Mother’ shall mean the woman who bears the child on behalf of the commissioning mother.
  • In case of a child begotten through surrogacy, the commissioning father who is a male government servant with less than two surviving children may be granted paternity leave of 15 days within the period of 6 months from the date of delivery of the child.
  • In case of surrogacy, the commissioning mother with less than two surviving children, amy be granted child care leave.
  • A female government servant and single male government servant” child care leave for a maximum period of 730 days during entire service “for taking care of two eldest surviving children, whether for rearing or for looking after any of their needs, such as education, sickness and the like.

Defence

• The Indian Air Force has concluded 3^rd Warfare & Aerospace Strategy Program (WASP) with Tri-Services participation for the first time.
  • Theme: “India’s Strategic Culture and Imperative for Contemporary National Security”.

Sports

• Rohit Sharma became the first batsmen to hit 200 sixes in T20Is. He also made the record of most sixes by an Indian in a T20 World Cup match (8) and also became the first-ever player to hit 600 sixes across all formats.
• The Inaugural BRICS Games 2024 have concluded in Kazan, Russia.
  • Mascot – Bricsik.
  • Top on Medal tally – Russia > Belarus > China.
  • India secured a total of 29 medals comprising 3 Gold, 6 Silver and 20 Bronze medals.
    • 3 Gold Medals: Aparna Dahiya is Wushu Sanda, Minakshi in 48 kg boxing and Anamika in 50 kg boxing.

Business and Finance

• Bajaj has inaugurated its first overseas manufacturing facility in Manaus, Brazil. Bajaj is also India’s largest exporter of two and three wheelers.
  • Bajaj Auto HQ: Pune.
  • Founded – 1945 by Jamnalal Bajaj, Rogen Frias.

International News

• Praguay has become the 100^th country to join the International Solar Alliance as a full time member.
  • Total 119 countries have signed the ISA Framework.
  • ISA Headquarter – National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram, India.
• The United States has designated Kenya as a Major Non-NATO Ally, MNNA for arms exports to the country.
  • Kenya:
    • President- William Ruto
    • Capital – Nairobi.
    • Currency – Kenyan Shilling.

Current Affairs                    29^th June, 2024

Days

• 29^th June is observed as the National Statistics Day in commemoration of the birth anniversary of Prashanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the Father of Indian Statistics.
  • On this day in 1893, he was born in Calcutta. His birth day is celebrated as the Statistics Day since 2007.
  • Theme 2024: “Use if Data for decision making”.
  • In 1931, in Calcutta he founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).
  • In 1951, he was appointed as a member of the Planning Commission of India by Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • The Second Five Year Plan a.k.a Mahalanobis Plan based on his own mathematical model that emphasized heavy industries and capital goods.
  • In 1968 he was awarded with the Padma Vibhusan.
• 29^th June is also celebrated as the International Day of the Tropics since 2016.

National News

• The President of India, Draupadi Murmu has addressed the Joint session of Both Houses of the Parliament.
  • Article 87 of the Constitution of India states that the President will address both Houses of the Parliament at two instances:
    • The beginning of the first session after each general election
    • The beginning of the first session of each year.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has replied to Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
  • The Motion of Thanks is a parliamentary procedure in which a formal motion is presented to express gratitude or appreciation for the President’s address to both the Houses of the Parliament.
  • At the end of the discussion, the motion is put to vote.
  • The Motion of Thanks must be passed in the House, otherwise, it amounts to the defeat of the government.
• CAG Girish Chandra Murmu has inaugurated the ‘Chadwick House Navigating Audit Heritage” which showcases evolution, achievements of the CAG.
  • In 1946, Mahatma Gandhi had stayed here during his visit to Shimla for the Cabinet Mission.
  • Article 148 of the Constitution of India provides for an independent office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He is the head of the Indian audit and accountant department.
  • Office of the Accountant General was established in 1858.
  • In 1860, Sir Edward Drummond was appointed as the first Auditor General.
  • V Narhari Rao was the first Indian/post-independence CAG of India.
• Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Jitan Ram Manji has launched two new initiatives on the world MSME Day.
  • MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) initiative aimed at helping small business participate in online trade using ONDC platform.
  • ‘Yashashwini’ initiative to support informal women-led business.
• Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra is going to have the first AI System in a Tiger Reserve, for early detection of forest fires.
  • The AI powered platform is known as ‘Panthera’. It can provide a real-time alerts of forest fires within 3 minutes.
• The Director General of Railway Protection Force, Manoj Yadava has launched ‘Sangyaan App’ to provide in-depth information on the three new Criminal Acts: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and the Bharatiye Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023.

State News

Himachal Pradesh

• Himachal Pradesh is all set to launch Early Childhood Care Education tutor Scheme to provide early childhood care and development of children b/w the age of 3 and 6 years.

Uttarakhand

• The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Department (USDMA) is set to do a vulnerability study of the 13 glacial lakes, five of which are in ‘high risk zones’.
  • Recently two major glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) took place – in Kedarnath Valley in June 2023 and in Chamoli’s Rishiganga Valley in February 2021.

Uttar Pradesh

• The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has given its nod to Tata Sons for the construction of Rs.650 cr Museum of Temples in Ayodhya.
  • The company will manage the project using its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund.

Rajasthan

• Jaipur Military Station is going to be the second military station of India to have plastic waste road.
  • The first military station to have a road built up of plastic waste was the Narangi Militay station, Guwahati, Assam.
  • Professor Rajagopalan Vasudevan has developed and patented a technique to use plastic waste in making roads.
    • He is also regarded as the Plastic Man of India and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2018.
  • The Government of India in 2017 allowed the mixing of 10% plastic waste with hot bitumen for the construction of roads. And in 2023, it made it mandatory to use plastic waste in the constriction and the repair of service roads of national highways within a radius of 50 km in urban areas and rural areas with five lakh population.

Assam

• The Assam cabinet has approved the Assam Witness Protection Scheme 2024 as the state’s first ever witness protection scheme. It is in line with the Section 298 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 to ensure protection of witness against imminent threats during the investigation and trial of any cases.

Awards

• Sanjana Thakur from Mumbai has won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2024 in London for her story entitled ‘Aishwarya Rai’.

Banking and Finance

• The Reserve Bank of India has revises the SAARC Currency Swap Framework for 2024-2027. Under the framework, a separate Indian Rupee SwapWindow will be introduced for swap support in Indian Rupee.
  • The total corpus is of Rs. 250 billion. The central bank will continue offering swap arrangements in US dollars and euros under a separate dollar/euro swap window.
  • This development is in line with the RBI’s ongoing efforts to improve financial cooperation in the SAARC Region.
  • SAARC:
    • Estd – 8^th December 1985.
    • Headquarter – Kathmandu, Nepal.
    • Member countries: Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

International News

• Denmark is going to be the first country in the world to impose a carbon tax on livestock emissions, targeting methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
  • From 2030, livestock farmers will be taxed. The tax will apply to cows, sheep, pigs, with cows being the primary focus due to theirs significant methane emissions.
• Turkey has been removed from the FATF Grey List.
  • FATF (Financial Action Task Force):
    • Estd – 1989 during the G7 Summit.
    • HQ- Paris, France

Sports

• Bronny and LeBron James has become the first father-son duo to team up in the NBA at the same time and on the same team Los Angeles Lakers.

Science and Technology

• SpaceX has successfully launched the 4^th and final satellite GOES-U for NASA’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Program.
  • The GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) will benefit the nation by providing continuous coverage of weather and hazardous environmental conditions across much of the Western Hemisphere.
• NASA has awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to construct a spacecraft aimed at safely deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS) by around 2030.
  • ISS is the largest structure ever constructed in space in joint collaboration among US, Europe, Japan, Canada and Russia.
  • NASA has identified Point Nemo, dubbed the “spacecraft graveyard” in the Pacific Ocean as the intended landing site for the debris.

Current Affairs                  30^th June, 2024

Day

• 30^th June is observed as the Hul Diwas.
  • The Santhal Hul of 1855 was a significant revolt against imperialism, led by the Murmu brothers—Sidho, Kanho, Chand, and Bhairav—alongside their sisters, Phulo and Jhano. This uprising is recognized as one of the earliest peasant revolts against British colonial oppression. The Santhals also resisted upper caste groups, zamindars, darogas, and moneylenders, collectively referred to as ‘diku,’ to protect their economic, cultural, and religious way of life.
  • In 1832, designated areas known as ‘Santhal Pargana’ or ‘Damin-i-Koh,’ now encompassing Sahibganj, Godda, Dumka, Deoghar, Pakur, and parts of Jamtara in Jharkhand, were established for the Santhals. Though they were promised settlement and agricultural opportunities, they instead faced repressive practices such as land-grabbing and bonded labor, known locally as Kamioti and Harwahi. These exploitative conditions fueled their determination to fight back against the oppressive regime.
  • Under the leadership of the Murmu brothers, around 60,000 Santhals engaged in guerrilla warfare against the East India Company for nearly six months. Despite their valiant efforts, the rebellion was eventually crushed on January 3, 1856. The British executed Sidhu in August 1855, followed by Kanhu in February 1856, marking a brutal end to the Santhal Hul.
  • Effect of the Santhal Uprising:
    • The Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act of 1876 (SPT Act), enacted by the British, was a direct outcome of the Santhal Hul. This Act prohibits the transfer of Adivasi lands, both urban and rural, to non-Adivasis. By ensuring that land can only be inherited, the Act preserves the Santhals’ rights to self-govern and maintain control over their land.
    • Similarly, the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT Act) of 1908, also enacted by the British, emerged from the Birsa Movement. This Act allows land transfers within the same caste and specific geographical areas but only with the approval of the District Collector. This restriction aims to protect the sale and transfer of Adivasi and Dalit land, ensuring that these communities retain their land ownership and heritage.
    • Together, these Acts reflect the efforts to safeguard the rights and lands of indigenous communities in the face of colonial and external pressures, maintaining their cultural and economic autonomy.
• June 30 is also observed as the World Asteroid Day.

Sports

• India has won its second T20 World Cup title in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at Barbados’ Kensington Oval after beating South Africa by 7 runs.
  • Player of the Match – Virat Kohli (IND)
  • Player of the Tournament – Jasprit Bumrah (IND)
  • Most runs were scored in the tournament by Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 281.
  • India’s Arshdeep Singh and Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi has jointly picked the most number of wickets in the tournament – 17 wickets.
  • The T20 World Cup trophy given by ICC is made up of silver and rhodium metals.
• Veteran Indian batsmen duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have announced their retirement from the T20 International cricket after India lifted its second T20 World Cup.
  • Rohit Sharma:
    • He became the third Indian Captain to have won a World Cup across formats after Kapil Dev (1983) and MS Dhoni (2007).
    • His career began in 2007 and he is the first ever captain to lead a team to 50 T20I games.
    • Under his captaincy, India also became the only team so far to win the T20 World Cup without a single defeat.
    • He is the highest run scorer in the T20I History (4231)
    • He also has the record of hitting most number of sixes in the T20I format.
  • Virat Kohli:
    • His career started in 2010 and so far he played 125 international matches.
    • He is the second highest run scorer in the T20I format only after Rohit Sharma.
    • The Man of the Match award was awarded to him in the T20 WC 2024 final.
• Veteran Indian Cricket all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has also announced his retirement from the T20 internationals.
• Shafali Verma has become the fastest woman double centurion in Test Cricket and became he only second Indian after former captain Mithali Raj to hit a double century in Test Cricket.

Appointments

• Ravi Agarwal has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). He succeeded Nitin Gupta.
  • CBDT, a statutory authority under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963, is responsible for administering the direct tax laws in India.
• IFS Officer Vikram Misri has been appointed as the Next Foreign Secretary of India, succeeding Vinay Mohan Kwatra.
  • Misri has served as India’s ambassador to China from 2019-2021 during the Galwan Valley Clashes.
  • He has also served as the private secretary to three Prime Ministers – IK Gujral, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.

International News

• Former Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Consa has been elected as the new President of the European Council of the European Union.
  • European Council defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. Deals with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels of intergovernmental cooperation.

Awards

• Dr Usha Thakur has been awarded the 12^th Vishwa Hindi Samman in the Hindi Samvad event, organized by the Embassy of India in Nepal. She has translated more than 40 literatures in Hindi and Nepali and strengthened Hindi language.

Rankings and Indices

• Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2024 Global Liveability Index:
  • The index ranks the liveability across five key categories, including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
  • Vinenna in Austria has topped the list as the world’s best city to live in.
  • Damascus in Syria is in the bottom position.
  • Pakistan’s Karachi and Bangladesh’s Dhaka are amongst the bottom 10 of the list.
  • Four cities in the Asia Pacific Region, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Osaka in Japan and Auckland in New Zealand has made into the top ten most liveable cities globally.
• Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index 2024:
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released  a full Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard. This tool will sort and rank 174 countries around the world based on how ready they are to use AI.
  • There are three main groups of countries that the AIPI looks at:
    • Low Income Countries (LIC)
    • Emerging Market Economies (EM)
    • Advanced Economies (AM)
  • Singapore, Denmark, and the United States are at the top of the list of AE, with scores of 0.80, 0.78, and 0.77, respectively.
  • India, which is an Emerging Market Economy, got a score of 0.49 and is now ranked 72nd in the world.
  • Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China, which are all close by, were ranked 113th, 92nd, and 31st, with scores of 0.38, 0.43, and 0.63, respectively.
  • The inference of the index has been that AI could threaten about 40% of the jobs around the world and can boost productivity and help new industries and jobs grow.

Banking and Finance

• Sumit Nagal has been appointed by the Bank of Baroda as its Brand Endorser.
  • Nagal is currently the highest ranked Indian singles tennis player with the world ranking of 71.