Daily Current affairs - June 21st and 22nd, 2018 for all competitive exams
The 4th International Yoga Day is being celebrated
across the globe on 21st of June.
- The
theme for Yoga Day 2018 is "Yoga for Peace".
- In
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi led thousands of people in performing
yoga asanas, in the main event organised at Forest Research Institute
in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
In 2015, United Nations General Assembly unanimously
announced 21st June as the International day for yoga to raise awareness
about the benefits of practising yoga. The resolution was co-sponsored in the
General Assembly by 177 nations, the highest ever number of co-sponsors for
any UNGA resolution of such nature.
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June 21 - World Music Day
The World Music Day is celebrated across the world
on 21 June. The day is also known as 'Fete de la
Musique' after a music festival that began in France in 1982.
- This
Day was first celebrated on 21st June 1982.
Pariwartan scheme by Rural Electrification
Corporation
The Rural Electrification
Corporation has finalised a plan to revitalise stressed power sector assets in a joint venture with the
Power Finance Corp and lenders. The plan is named Pariwartan and
stands for power asset warehousing and revitalisation.
- Under
the plan, the REC has proposed that a special purpose vehicle, a
subsidiary company to securitiseassets, be set up with PFC
and the lending banks, which would be overlooked by an asset management
company.
- The
asset management firm will take on assets with a capacity of about 40,000
MW at net book value, and seek between 4-5% of equity from the National
Infrastructure Investment Fund to run power projects under the scheme.
- The
goal of this scheme is to run these power assets to service their
current debt, and look at breaking even before
the lenders decide to takeover or sell the assets.
- The
‘Pariwartan’ scheme is inspired by the Troubled Asset Relief Programme, or
TARP, which was introduced in the US during the 2008 financial crisis.
Center plans to scrap cash incentives under FAME
The Centre plans to scrap
cash incentives currently offered to buyers of electric cars under FAME scheme.
The move, experts said, will further dampen sales of private electric cars.
- The
government seeks to withdraw the cash incentives for private electric cars
because it neither makes a “substantial difference in promoting sales nor
serves the purpose of a clean environment”.
- Instead,
the government has now decided to give cash subsidies to electric vehicles
used by shared-mobility operators such as Ola and Uber, as their vehicles
will run much more than private cars.
- Currently,
the government offers a discount of up to Rs 1.3 lakh on an electric car
as part of its clean-energy programme, FAME (faster adoption and
manufacturing of hybrid and electric vehicles). This is being proposed to
be removed in the new FAME Phase 2 draft policy drawn up by the heavy
industries ministry.
With an aim
to promote eco-friendly vehicles, the government had launched the Faster
Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India
(FAME-India) scheme in 2015. It was launched by union ministry for heavy
industries.
The FAME India Scheme is aimed at incentivising all vehicle segments,
including two-wheelers, three wheeler auto, passenger four-wheeler vehicle,
light commercial vehicles and buses. The scheme
covers hybrid and electric technologies like a strong hybrid, plug-in
hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
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National Testing Agency being setup to relieve CBSE
The National
Testing Agency, which is being set up to relieve the Central Board of Secondary
Education (CBSE) of the burden of conducting multiple examinations, will also
train paper setters to set better question papers and provide better model
answers.
- In
pursuance of the Budget Announcement 2017-18, the Union Cabinet, in
November 2017, approved creation of the National Testing Agency (NTA) as
an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) in the country.
- It
will be chaired by an educationist who will be appointed by the MHRD. The
agency will have a board of governors who will represent the member
institutions.
- The
NTA would initially conduct those entrance examinations which are
currently being conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education
(CBSE). The examinations will be conducted in online mode twice a year in
order to give adequate opportunity to candidates to bring out their best.
PM Modi laid foundation stone of paperless
Vanijya Bhawan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone
of Paperless Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi.
- Once
ready, the new building will house Department of Commerce. The
building will accommodate about 1000 officers and staff.
- It
will be a completely paperless office with state of the art facilities
such as smart access control, central air-conditioning, video
conferencing, and completely networked systems. The Department of Commerce
is currently housed in Udyog Bhawan.
KVIC adopts Jagatpur village in Delhi for
Swachhata Abhiyaan
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission
(KVIC) has adopted Jagatpur village in Delhi for its Swachhata Abhiyaan.
- The
sanitation drive by KVIC began with a plantation drive and ended with
cleanliness drive along the bank of the Yamuna River.
Railways to become net zero Carbon emitter by
2030
Indian Railways will become a “net zero” carbon emitter by
2030, with the current action plans on anvil for 100 per cent electrification,
coupled with renewable strategies.
- This
has been announced by Railways Minister Piyush Goyal while addressing
the Rail Contact 2018 conference organised by Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII).
4 MoUs signed under ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme
Four MoUs have been signed under ‘Adopt a
Heritage’ scheme and six more are at an advanced stage, according to Mr
Raghvendra Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Culture.
The four MoUs include:
1. Mount
Stok Kangri Trek Route, Ladakh: The MoU for adoption was signed between
Ministry of Tourism, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) and
the state government of Jammu & Kashmir.
2. Gangotri
Temple Area & Trail to Gaumukh, Uttarakhand: The MoU was signed
between Ministry of Tourism, ATOAI and Uttarakhand Government.
3. Red
Fort, Delhi: The MoU was signed between Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of
Culture, ASI and Dalmia Bharat Limited.
4. Gandikota
Fort, Andhra Pradesh: The MoU was signed between Ministry of
Tourism, Ministry of Culture, ASI and Dalmia Bharat Limited.
CEMS sets up first-of-its-kind labs in Mumbai
and Vizag
The Centre of Excellence in Maritime &
Shipbuilding (CEMS), a well-funded start-up in skill development for
maritime and shipbuilding sector, has announced setting up of 24 labs -6
in Mumbai and 18 in Vizag campus.
- CEMS
has established one of the first of its kind of infrastructure in Asia
Pacific region with 24 labs.
- CEMS
aims to build competency in the field of maritime & shipbuilding
sector through skill development in the latest manufacturing technologies
for shipbuilding/ repair and ancillary sectors.
World’s 1st International Centre for
Humanitarian Forensics launched in Gujarat
The world's first of its kind and
state-of-the-art International Centre for ‘Humanitarian Forensics’
(ICHF) was launched at the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University in
Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
- The
main aim of the Centre would be to provide service to the nation and to
the entire world when the need arises.
- The
centre is joint venture of Regional delegation of International Committee
of Red Cross (ICCR) in India, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives and also Gujarat
Forensic Science University.
Kota set Guinness World Record for largest
number of people performing yoga
Guinness World Record (GWR) for largest number
of people performing yoga at one place at the same time has been set up in
Kota, Rajasthan in the 4th edition of International Yoga Day (IYD-2018).
- Around
one lakh 60 thousand people performed yoga at one place at a same time on
Jun 21, 2018 at the State level yoga function in Kota.
Haryana has become the first state in India to
give star ranking to its villages
A total of 1,120 villages of Haryana have achieved star
ranking under ‘7-Star Gram Panchayat Rainbow Scheme’ launched in January 2018
by Chief Minister Manohar Lal.
- The
star rating to the village panchayats under the scheme is given on the
basis of seven parameters and for each parameter different colours of
stars are awarded such as Pink star for outstanding performance in
improving sex ratio.
- Green
star for protection of environment, White star for cleanliness,
Saffron star for crime-free villages.
- Sky
colour star awarded to village that will have no drop out. Golden star for
good governance. Silver star for participation in development of villages.
Under the scheme the villages would be rewarded Rs 1 lakh for achieving
each star.
Uttarakhand High Court has banned water sports
in the state
Uttarakhand high court has banned paragliding,
and white water rafting and other water sports until the government frames
a policy to regulate them.
- It
also expressed concern over environmental damages, remarking that the
state is not maintaining the sanctity of river Ganga.
India notifies higher tariffs on U.S. imports
India will raise duties on 29 products from the
US, striking back against Washington’s move to impose higher tariffs on Indian
steel and aluminium exports
The duties, which take effect August 4, will
mean $240 million additional revenue.
- The
Indian government said it will raise duties on American apples, almonds,
walnuts and some stainless steel products among others but kept high-end
motorcycles off the list. The bikes are a sore point with Trump, who has
cited duties on Harley-Davidsons in his trade-related comments on India.
India & Tajikistan agree to enhance mutual
cooperation for sustainable water development
India and Tajikistan have reaffirmed their
commitment to promote bilateral relations and agreed to enhance
economic cooperation, particularly in sustainable water development.
- Nitin
Gadkari, the Union Minister for Water Resources, River
Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Road Transport & Highways and
Shipping held wide-ranging talks with Sirodjidin Muhridin,
Foreign Minister of Tajikistan in Dushanbe
- Mr
Gadkari is in Dushanbe to represent India at the high-level global
conference on “International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable
Development”.
COMCASA and BECA
US side has pressed the
Indian side to sign the two foundational agreements for defence cooperation: Communications
Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), earlier known as the
Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA); and
Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA).
- India
and the US have so far signed only one foundational agreement: Logistical
Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
COMCASA is a “technology enabler” to help transfer high-tech
avionics, encrypted communication and electronic systems to India as well as
ensure secrecy of its C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers,
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems
from leaking to other countries like Russia. This agreement would allow the
interoperability of India and United States equipments.
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BECA refers
to Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation. This
agreement would facilitate exchange of geospatial information between India and United States for both military and civilian use.
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Algeria shuts down internet nationwide to
prevent cheating during high school exams
Algeria shut down all internet connections nationwide for two
hours in order to prevent students from cheating during two high school diploma
exams.
- This
comes after widespread cheating in 2016, where questions were leaked on
social media before the start of the exam.
Canada becomes second nation in the world to legalize marijuana
Canada is only
the second country in the world -- and the first G7 nation -- to implement
legislation to permit a nationwide marijuana market. In the neighboring US,
nine states and the District of Columbia now allow for recreational marijuana
use, and 30 allow for medical use.
- Uruguay
was the first country to legalize marijuana's production, sale and
consumption in December 2013.
Microsoft acquires education start-up
Flipgrid
Microsoft has acquired Flipgrid, an
education start-up with an app that lets students record and share videos on
specific topics with their classmates.
- Microsoft
is making Flipgrid free of charge. Schools that already have subscriptions
will receive prorated refunds.
Women Wizards rule tech programme launched by
NASSCOM
Indian IT industry’s apex body, NASSCOM (National Association
of Software & Services Companies) launched ‘Women Wizards Rule Tech’
programme to increase number of women in senior levels in Information
Technology (IT) industry.
- The
programme is designed to support women who are moving up the career
ladder, while also paving the way for potential leaders of the future.
- The
initiative will aid women techies in core technologies like IT-Information
Technology Enabled Services (ITES), Business Process Management (BPM),
product and research and development (R&D) sectors by equipping them
with the skills required for an edge in their career.
- It
was announced in Mar 2018 at Nasscom Diversity and Inclusion Summit in
Chennai as joint initiative by Nasscom Sector Skills Council and Data
Security Council of India.
RBI tells banks to upgrade software at ATMs by
June 2019 or face penalty
With banks failing to upgrade software in
automated teller machines (ATM) despite repeated reminders, the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) has now directed the banks to complete the process in a phased
manner latest by June 2019.
- Banks
have been asked to upgrade 25% of the ATMs by September 2018, 50% by
December 2018, 75% by March 2019 and all by June 2019.
- Security
measures should be implemented by August 2018 and anti-skimming and
white-listing solutions by March 2019.
PM Modi to inaugurate 3rd AIIB meeting in
Mumbai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate
the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB) in Mumbai.
- In
the past, AIIB annual meetings have been held in Beijing, China, in 2016
and in Jeju, South Korea, in 2017.
- The
theme for this year's meeting is "Mobilising Finance for
Infrastructure: Innovation and Collaboration" that will see
leaders from varied organizations and levels of government.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is
a multilateral development bank that aims to support the building of
infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region. The bank currently has 64 member
states while another 22 are prospective members for a total of 86 approved
members and was proposed as an initiative by the government of China.
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Talent surplus in India by 2030
According to a report- ‘The Salary Surge’, India would be the only
economy that will not face an upward revision of wages by 2030, as it has a
talent surplus, bucking the global trend of a talent crunch.
- Globally,
a shortage of highly skilled employees could dramatically drive up
salaries for the most in-demand workers by 2030.
- This
is likely to add more than USD 2.5 trillion in annual labour costs by 2030, for organizations around the world.
- Globally,
US companies can expect to pay the most globally facing a wage premium of
more than USD 531 billion by 2030, while Germany will be the worst
affected, facing a potential wage premium of approximately USD 176 billion
by 2030.
- Meanwhile,
in the Asia Pacific, the salary surge could add more than USD 1 trillion
to annual payrolls by 2030, jeopardising companies’
profitability and threatening business models if kept unchecked.
- The
study also found that Japan would be expected to pay the most, an
additional USD 468 billion by 2030.
NITI Aayog has ranked Rajasthan at No.1 state
in water conversation
NITI Aayog has ranked Rajasthan at first place among states
in water conversation as it registered a significant increase in the level of
groundwater.
- This
achievement is due to water conservation structures built under Chief
Minister’s Jal Swawlamban Abhiyaan programme.
Nuclear arsenals around the globe
Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) has released its 2018 edition of the yearly report
on the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security.
- There
are nine countries which have nuclear warheads. They include Russia, the
US, the UK, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea.
- China
continues to modernise its nuclear weapon delivery systems and is slowly
increasing the size of its nuclear arsenal. The country now has an
estimated 280 nuclear warheads. In 2017 report, the number was 270.
- The
US and Russia still constitute a major share of approximately 14,465
nuclear weapons that exist in the world. Despite the overall decrease in
global nuclear weapons year-on-year, India and Pakistan have increased
their stockpiles. India, which had estimated 120-130 nuclear warheads as
per 2017 report, now has 130-140 warheads. Similarly, Pakistan, which had
130-140 warheads now has increased to 140-150 warheads. Both countries are
also developing new land, sea and air-based missile delivery systems.
- Nuclear
warheads in other countries: UK (215 warheads), France (300 warheads),
Israel (80 warheads) and North Korea (10-20 warheads). The figures for
North Korea are uncertain.
SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to
research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established
in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open
sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. Based
in Stockholm, SIPRI also has a presence in Beijing, and is regularly ranked
among the most respected think tanks worldwide.
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Vishwas Mandalik and Yoga Institute in Mumbai
recipients of PM Award
Vishwas Mandalik from Nasik and
the Yoga Institute in Mumbai have been selected as recipients of
the Prime Minister’s award for outstanding contribution for promotion and
development of yoga for the year 2018.
- The
selection was done from among 186 nominations received under
different categories.
- Vishwas
Mandalik acquired knowledge of Patanjali and Hatha Yoga, Bhagwad Gita
and Upanishad by study and research of ancient scriptures. In 1978, he set
up the first branch of Yoga Vidya Dham.
- The
Yoga Institute, established in 1918 by Yogendraji, completed its 100
years serving the society. The winners would be felicitated with a trophy,
certificate and a cash award of 25 lakh rupees each.
Master of cinema Martin Scorsese to receive
Lifetime Achievement Award
Veteran director Martin Scorsese will be conferred with the
Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rome Film Fest.
- The
announcement was made by director Antonio Monda and Laura Delli Colli, the
head of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma.
SBI MD B Sriram took charge as the CEO and MD
of IDBI Bank for 3 months
B Sriram has been appointed in place of Mahesh
Kumar Jain who was recently made the Deputy Governor of RBI.
- Sriram
currently manages SBI’s corporate banking division, which has a loan book
exceeding Rs10 lakh crore.
Pulitzer Prize-winning political commentator
Charles Krauthammer passes away
United States political commentator and Pulitzer
Prize winner Charles Krauthammer passed away at the age of 68.
- The
columnist died of cancer of the small intestine.
- Krauthammer’s
column has been published in The Washington Post since 1984.
Kidambi Srikanth named sports illustrated
sportsperson of the Year
The country’s top-ranked men’s Shuttler Kidambi
Srikanth was adjudged Sports Illustrated ‘India’s Sportsperson of the Year’ for
his stupendous performance in 2017.
- Other winners included the women’s cricket team, which bagged the ‘Team of the Year’ award while national football team coach Stephen Constantine clinched the title of ‘Coach of the year’.
